General Kim graduated the Republic of of Korea Military Academy in 1971. He graduated of Korea National Defense University in 1988, then he earned master"s degree in Arts at Graduate School of Public Administration, Yonsei University in 1989.
He is currently a Grand National Party Representative in the National Assembly of South of Korea. In November 2006 to February 2008, he served as Republic of of Korea Minister of National Defense. In March 2015, Kim was appointed as of Korea"s Ambassador to China.
His assignments as a general officer were Chief, Operations Division, First Army (FROKA), Commanding General, 6th Infantry Division (1997-1999), Director, Operational Planning, Joint Chiefs of Staff (1999-2000), Director, Operations, Joint Chiefs of Staff (2000-2001), Commanding General, VII Corps (2001-2003), and Chief Director, Joint Operations, Joint Chiefs of Staff (2003-2004). His last assignment prior becoming Army Chief of Staff was Deputy Commander, Republic of of Korea - United States (Republic of Korea-United States) Combined Forces Command. In April 2005 to November 2006, he served as Chief of Staff of the Republic of of Korea Army.
