JI HYUN KIM

In 2017, however, after 7 years of unspectacular results, Kim suddenly vaulted up into the top reaches of the KLPGA tour. After a few decent starts, in late April she captured her first win at the KG EDaily Ladies Open. She had several more top fives after that, as well as a missed cut, but in early June she struck again, winning the S-OIL Championship, then following that up the next week with a third win, this time at the biggest event of the year, the Korea Women's Open. Just like that, Kim had three wins and was the top player on the KLPGA tour.

Kim did not win again in 2018, but she still had a fantastic season. She finished second on the money list, earning nearly 790 million won. She had 9 top tens and won her first Major. Her great play also earned her several invites to LPGA events. Her best result there was a 13th place at the KEB-Hana Bank Championship.

Kim played at the Kowa Queens team event, representing the KLPGA. She won one team match and lost one, and won her singles match 5 & 4 against European star Gwladys Nocera of France. She also played at the ING Champions for the KLPGA against the LPGA Koreans. In that event, Kim won one and tied one team event, while slaughtering Jenny Shin in the singles 7 & 6.

In 2018, Kim played at the ANA Inspiration and Kia Classic, but missed the cut in both. However, she returned to Korea and promptly won the KLPGA's Lotte Rent-a-Car Ladies Open. The following week, she played in Lotte's LPGA event in Hawaii and achieved her best finish on that tour to date, a tie for 11th.

Ji Hyun Kim made over 340 million won on the KLPGA in 2018, finishing 16th on the money list. She had 7 top tens and one win at the Lotte Rent-A-Car Women's Open in April. She also tried her hand on the LPGA tour with some success. She missed the cut at the ANA Inspiration, but managed a tie for 10th at the US Women's Open, her career best Major. She also had top 20s at the Lotte Championship in Hawaii and at the KEB Hana Bank in Korea.

Kim also played at the OrangeLife Champions Trophy for the KLPGA team. She teamed with Ji Hyun Oh in a close loss to In Gee Chun and Jenny Shin, then beat Jennifer Song in singles. The LPGA won the match 13-11.

Kim had a strong season in 2019. She made over 527 million won that year, finishing 12th on the money list. She won the Doosan Match Play and had two more second places and a third, and a total of five top tens. She also played in three LPGA events that year; her best result was a tie for 26th at the BMW Championship.

Ji Hyun also played as the captain for the KLPGA team in the annual KLPGA/LPGA team event, the OrangeLife. She teamed with Ayean Cho to lose to Jin Young Ko and So Yeon Ryu 3 & 2, and with A Lim Kim to beat Ko and MJ Hur 2 & 1. She lost to Jenny Shin 3 & 1 in the singles. The KLPGA won the event 15 - 9.

In 2020, the world was hit with the Covid19 pandemic. All sports leagues, including the LPGA and KLPGA, were massively affected by it; many events were canceled or shifted around the schedule, and fans were forbidden from attending. Ji Hyun finished 22nd that year on the money list with 181 million won earned. She didn't win, but she had a 2nd and a 5th as her top finishes.

Kim again played as the captain of the KLPGA team at the annual KLPGA/LPGA team event, the OrangeLife Champions Trophy. She teamed with So Mi Lee in the only KLPGA loss of day 1, falling to Eun Hee Ji and Hyo Joo Kim 4 & 3. She sat out the singles. The KLPGA defended their title, winning 10.5 to 7.5.

Ji Hyun continued to play solidly in 2021. She earned 291 million won that year, 29th on the money list. A pair of thirds were her best finishes. She finished 59th on the money list in 2022; her best finish was a 14th place.

2023 was a similar year for Ji Hyun. She finished 64th on the money list with 145 million won earned. Her best finish was a tie for 14th.