He was known for his leading roles in the films My Wife Got Married (2008), The Servant (2010) and Yourself and Yours (2016), as well as the television series Lovers in Prague (2005), God of War (2012), Hur Jun, The Original Story (2013), and Argon (2017). Kim was also an original regular cast member on the variety show 2 Days & 1 Night.

On 30 October 2017, Kim was involved in a fatal car accident that reportedly took place around 16:30 KST in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. According to the police and Konkuk University Medical Center, “It seems the accident occurred after he showed symptoms of myocardial infarction (heart attack).” His car overturned, and he was taken to Konkuk University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead two hours later.