James Boss, eldest of two children, was born in Hollywood, California and raised in Hacienda Heights, California by Korean American parents Sun Kim, and Young W. Kim.

He began martial arts training at the age of 6. Upon graduating high school, he attended The Art Institute of Los Angeles studying graphic design. He later began acting at the Howard Fine Studio, studied under Ivanna Chubbuck, and then relocated to South Korea's Seoul Institute of the Arts to further his study in theater. He co-directed his first play, Liar Reversal to critical acclaim in 2011.

In 2010 he starred and directed in the worldwide release of "White Wall", an action post apocalyptic film set in a dystopian society. In 2012-2017 he went on to write, direct and act in three short films that was nominated and won awards in several established film festivals around the globe. Working between the South Korean and Hollywood film industries, his career has been well noted for his DIY approach in movie's and music video's.