Kim Woo-bin got his start in the entertainment industry as a runway model. He then debuted as an actor in 2011 with appearances in KBS2’s White Christmas and MBN’s Vampire Idol. The following year, he became part of the KBS2 drama School 2013, which won him Best New Actor at the 2nd APAN Star Awards. He was also nominated for Best New Actor at the 49th Baeksang Arts Awards for his performance in the series. In 2013, he acted alongside Lee Min-ho and Park Shin-hye in the hit SBS drama Heirs, which earned him various recognitions. In 2014, he received Best New Actor nominations at the 50th Baeksang Arts Awards and the 35th Blue Dragon Film Awards for the action film Friend: The Great Legacy. In 2015, he starred alongside Kang Haneul and Junho in the coming-of-age film Twenty, which scored him another Best New Actor nomination at the 24th Buil Film Awards. In 2016, he was paired with Suzy in the KBS2 romance melodrama Uncontrollably Fond.

Kim Woo-bin was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer in May 2017, resulting in his career hiatus and exemption from military service. He is best friends with his fellow model-turned-actor Lee Jong-seok. He has been dating actress Shin Mina since 2015.