[2] He pursued higher education at Yonsei University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in February 1980.

In 1989, Kim completed his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia, with a dissertation titled IMF, Economic Stabilization, and Class Conflict in the Third World.

He began his academic career after completing his Ph.D. at the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1989, where he briefly served as a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science from 1989 to 1990.

In addition to his teaching and research roles, Kim contributed to academia through editorial work and by leading academic societies.

[6][7] During his time as Director, Kim worked to expand the physical footprint of the museum and sought to garner public opinion to relocate the US Embassy.