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Kiyoung Kim is a South Korean professional poker player who has become a prominent fixture in the Asian high-stakes tournament scene, particularly within the Taiwan and South Korean circuits.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
According to The Hendon Mob, Kiyoung Kim has recorded nearly $120,000 in total live earnings, currently ranking 269th on the South Korea All Time Money List. His career-best live cash of $21,057 was achieved in February 2024 at the Grand Poker Tour New Year Korea Poker Festival, where he secured a runner-up finish in the KRW 2,000,000 High Roller event.
Kim has maintained a high level of performance throughout 2025, recording significant results across several major festivals. In May 2025, he earned a 3rd-place finish in the Super High Roller event at the Asia Poker Championship in Taipei for $11,926. More recently, in October 2025, he secured 4th place in the High Roller event during the Taiwan Millions Tournament Championship II for $5,972. These consistent deep runs in high-buy-in events have established his status as a regular threat in the regional professional community.
Biography & Poker Background
Originally from South Korea, where he still resides, Kiyoung Kim began appearing in major tournament records around late 2023. While he initially built his resume at domestic events such as the Korea Poker Championship and Jeju International Poker Tour, he has quickly transitioned into a regular traveler on the international circuit. He is now a frequent competitor in major Asian festivals, including World Poker Tour (WPT) Prime and the Asian Poker Tour (APT) , with a primary focus on events held in Taipei City and Jeju.
Play Style & Strategy
Kiyoung Kim is known for a calculated and resilient play style that excels in both large-field championships and elite high roller fields. During the 2025 APT Championship in Taipei, Ki Young Kim demonstrated his technical proficiency by bagging the overall chip lead in the Ultra Stack Championship after topping the Turbo Flight C flight. His ability to navigate diverse tournament structures and maintain a high volume of deep runs suggests a strong grasp of modern tournament dynamics and ICM pressure, making him one of the most consistent South Korean regulars on the current circuit.
My relationship with cards started thanks to my father. I was still in elementary school when he first taught me how to play Rummy, and I still remember the long evenings spent playing cards with my family. During the poker boom, I was still underage, but the televised tournaments immediately captured my attention. I became fascinated with the game and started learning different poker formats whenever I had the chance. Later in life, as an adult, I was fortunate enough to spend four years playing poker professionally. During that time, I mainly focused on Heads-Up Sit and Go games, where I found the format that suited me best. Even though my professional career was relatively short, poker remains something I’m grateful to have experienced as a major part of my life. Today, I play mostly as a hobby, while writing has become my main focus. That said, my enthusiasm for writing about poker is just as strong as my passion for playing the game once was.
