Ji-eun Kim was born in Hamgyong Province, North Korea. When she became one year old, her mom took her to China, where they lived together for 13 years. She came to South Korea in 2016. She began studying theatre at Kookmin University and  joined the Freedom Speakers International English Empowerment program the same year.

Ji-eun is passionate about sharing her experiences through speeches on topics such as the challenges of living as a North Korean refugee child in China, attending an alternative school for North Korean refugees in South Korea, and navigating the crisis of her identity.