[1] A bright child, by 12 years old Kim was capable of speaking some Japanese, Chinese, English and Russian, and had skipped some grades of school; by 14, he was acting as an interpreter for US troops in Korea during the Korean War.

When the North Koreans and Chinese returned, Kim was given six hours to decide whether to take an empty U.S. Air Force seat, and go South with the US Army, which he accepted upon the urging of his father.

[2] He went to Taegu Airbase, and in 1952 passed the qualifying English exams, securing him the job of interpreter for Colonel Decatur Poindexter Butler.

On 25 November 1954, Kim began the paperwork to immigrate to the US permanently, in order to join the US air force.

[5] In 1996, Kim was awarded an Honorary Alabama Colonel for his outstanding leadership in the field of mathematics.

[8] Kim began teaching at St. Mary's College in 1968, moving to Pembroke State University in 1971.

[7] Kim spent 35 years teaching at Alabama State University, ending his tenure in 2007.

[2] Following meeting fellow mathematician Fred Roush, Kim published over 150 more papers over a variety of subjects.