During the 1970s, Kim Kang Yong, along with other contemporary painters, focused on meticulously portraying everyday objects. He skillfully depicted unconventional subjects such as cobblestones, railroad tracks, and wall surfaces, emphasizing the sense of place and its conveyance through art. This approach extended to various subjects, including studio interiors, grassy fields, and urban landscapes, where he highlighted surface textures, surreal compositions, and intricate renditions of painting tools.
Kim's paintings of bricks challenge the viewer's perception of reality. Although they appear remarkably realistic, they are, in fact, virtual representations. The artist employs shading to skillfully create the illusion of bricks, relying on the interplay between light and darkness to convey depth and texture. Shadows play a vital role in understanding his work, as they define surfaces, create divisions, and provide the impression of bricks protruding or receding. Kim's ability to transform ordinary objects and landscapes into unique entities showcases the transformative power of art. His paintings evoke a sense of mystery and fascination, blurring the boundaries between the real and the virtual. Through his artistic exploration, he challenges viewers to reconsider their perception of reality and invites them to discover the extraordinary within the ordinary.

Kim Kang Yong’s first verified exhibition was Première Convergence: Jeune expression 1981 at Parc floral de Paris, in 1981 and had a solo exhibition at Sungkok Art Museum in Seoul in 2020. His art is in museum collections such as Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) in Seoul and National Museum of Contemporary Art Korea in Gwacheon and among others.