During an appearance on the YouTube channel “Sweet Brother Shin Dong-yeop,” Kim opened up about his battle with the illness.

According to Koreareflecting on the moment he received his cancer diagnosis, Kim shared, “I’ve always had a positive outlook and try to see the bright side in every situation.”

But when he learned about his condition, it felt surreal: “It was like something out of a TV drama. The doctor suddenly said, ‘At worst, you might have only six months to live.’”

“I was shocked, scared, and wished it were all just a nightmare,” he added. “Still, I never once thought, ‘What if I can’t beat this?’”

Kim eventually gathered himself and shifted his focus toward his treatment. He expressed: “I’m thankful for the time I had to reflect and be with my family. The support and prayers from so many people gave me strength. I truly believe that made a difference in how well my treatment went.”

In 2019, Kim’s doctor confirmed his full recovery, allowing him to return to work. These days, he prays for his family often and has become more open in expressing his love.

Kim’s most recent project, the Netflix film “Officer Black Belt,” premiered on Sept. 13 and quickly amassed 8.3 million views in just three days, securing the top spot on the platform’s global Top 10 list for non-English films. In the movie, Kim portrays Lee Jeong Do, a martial arts expert with a ninth-degree black belt, responsible for supervising individuals wearing electronic ankle monitors.

At 35, Kim began his career as a model before transitioning to acting, gaining recognition with the TV drama “White Christmas.” His fame skyrocketed with roles in “A Gentleman’s Dignity,” “School 2013,” and “The Heirs.” In 2016, he starred in “Uncontrollably Fond” and followed up with “Master.”

Kim has been in a relationship with actress Shin Min Ah, 40, for a decade, though they have no immediate plans to marry.