Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, Yoonmi received a BFA in Printmaking from Hong-Ik University in Seoul, Korea. She moved to the United States to study at the Rhode Island School of Design, where she received an MFA in Painting/Printmaking in 2000. Yoonmi has received grants and awards to support her studio practice and travel. Some notable achievements include, a Solo Exhibition Award from The Print Center in Philadelphia, MI-LAB Artist Residency Award in Japan, The Hall Center Creative Work Fellowship at The University of Kansas, and the Ngwang Choephel Fellowship from the U.S. State Department. Her work is in the collections of the RISD Museum, RI; Spencer Museum of Art, KS; and the Beach Museum of Art, KS; among others, and has been shown both nationally and internationally including countries such as Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, Korea, Germany, Poland, Mexico, Bulgaria, Italy, Sweden, and Paraguay. Yoonmi has taught at RISD and Washington University in St. Louis. Currently, she teaches at the University of Kansas, where she has been a faculty member since 2001.