Born in Seoul, South Korea, where he and his family lived until Michael was 7 years old, at which time the family relocated to the United States. Grew up in Del Mar, California, where he attended Torrey Pines High School and frequently played Torrey Pines' North Course.

If not a golfer, would like to be an ESPN golf analyst.

Favorite athletes are Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Aaron Rodgers.

Played two and a half seasons at University of California-Berkeley (2011-13) and turned professional in December 2013, midway through his junior season. Kim maintained his amateur status through Final Stage of the 2013 Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament, where he finished T56 and earned conditional membership for the 2014 Korn Ferry Tour season. Kim said the call to his coaches at Cal was "the toughest call I've ever had to make."

Won the 2013 Jack Nicklaus Award (Division I) and the 2013 Fred Haskins Award, becoming the first player from University of California-Berkeley to win any of the three collegiate national player of the year awards, with the other being the Ben Hogan Award (won in 2013 by Chris Williams of University of Washington).

In the two full seasons Kim played at Cal, he (along with Max Homa and Brandon Hagy) helped the Golden Bears win back-to-back Pac-12 Conference Championships, in addition to helping Cal break an unofficial NCAA record for team wins in a season (11 in 2012-13). Cal fell in the semifinals of match play at both the 2012 and 2013 NCAA Championships in Kim's two postseason appearances.

Qualified as an amateur for the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club via open qualifying; he eventually finished T17 for low amateur honors.

Represented the United States at both the 2013 Walker Cup and 2013 Arnold Palmer Cup.

As a senior, led Torrey Pines High School to a team state title at the 2011 CIF State Boys Golf Championship at Poppy Hills Golf Course. Xander Schauffele, then at Scripps Ranch High School, won the individual title.