His dissertation at Münster was titled "Possibilities and Limits of Social Policy in the Present Social–Economic Situation in the Republic of Korea".

In January 2015, he criticized Park for "not being able to recognize a problem", and commented on his own plans that he had "lost trust in people": "I do not have much desire to talk".

[5] After stepping down as Park's advisor, Kim subsequently joined the liberal opposition Democratic Party as chairman of the Emergency Planning Commission.

[9] Kim faced calls to resign over the process, but decided to stay on as leader,[10] pledging to continue reforming the party.

Kim announced his independent candidacy in the 2017 South Korean presidential election to oppose Moon Jae-in in April 2017 after leaving the Democratic Party.