In 1927, Kim Yeon-sil debuted in the film industry as a country girl in Na Un-gyu's first production, A Farewell. Kim Yeon-sil's interest in film was largely influenced by her brother Kim Hak-geun, who was her lawyer. Her cameraman, Kim Hak-seong, was also her biological younger brother. She is said to have been active as a public singer after 1930. After liberation, she defected to North Korea. In North Korea, she served as an actress at the Joseon Art Film Studio, and she was awarded the title of People's Actress. She died in August 1997.