Kim had intended to pursue graduate studies in
Austria while working as a piano instructor. But when she met Lee Jae Myung in August 1990, her plans were altered. She gained public attention by appearing on television programs alongside her husband. At first, Kim did not want Lee to become involved in politics, but as Lee grew more well-known during his term as mayor of Seongnam, Kim changed her mind and began publicly supporting him. Kim eventually came to believe that "participating in public service with her husband was rewarding," according to
Korea JoongAng Daily. In 2018, she published a cookbook titled ''Let's Make Meals''. In 2022, she was accused of using a
Gyeonggi Province government credit card for her personal expenses. She was fined 1.5 million won by an appellate court, which ruled that her actions constituted a violation of the Public Official Election Act, as they were deemed to have benefited her husband’s campaign. This case has been criticized by many in comparison to other comparable cases, for example, cases regarding Kim Keon Hee. Kim has appealed the conviction to the Supreme Court. ==As First Lady==