Kim started his international career at the 1983 Intercontinental Cup. The same year he played the first round of the 1983 draft for MBC Blue Dragons, but did not sign a contract. Next year he took part in the Amateur World Series and 1984 Summer Olympics, where baseball was a demonstration sport. He turned professional in 1985 and played for the Dragons until retiring in 2000. The team changed its name to LG Twins in 1990. Until 2012, he remained a high KBO League scorer in several categories, including saves and saves points (first); number of wins (6th); games pitched, earned run average and innings pitched (8th); and winning percentage (10th).[citation needed]
In retirement, between 2002 and 2009 Kim worked as a pitching coach and scout for the Twins, until becoming the head baseball coach at Chung-Ang University in 2010.[citation needed]