Kim subsequently returned to Ewha to take up a professorship in the philosophy department.

She specialises in the philosophy of art, epistemology, and women's studies,[1] and has served as an associate editor of the International Feminist Journal of Politics.

[3] As co-chair of the faculty council, Kim was one of the leaders of protests against Choi Kyung-hee, who resigned as president of Ewha in October 2016 over corruption charges and was later sentenced to imprisonment.

[6] The election process was somewhat controversial, as there was initially an age limit of 61 for candidates; some commentators accused the university board of setting this limit specifically to exclude Kim, who was 62.

[4] During her election campaign, she promised to "return Ewha to its original state and restore its honor".