 During his tenure, Kim led the development of smart UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), the launch of KOMPSAT-3 (Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite-3), KOMPSAT-5, STSAT-3 (Science and Technology Satellite-3) and the first Korean space launch vehicle, Naro.Before becoming president of KARI, Kim had been a professor of the Engineering College at Seoul National University since 1986.He chaired the KSAS (Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences) in 2009, the KSCM (Korean Society for Composite Materials) from 2005 to 2006, and the KSIAM (Korean Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics) from 2004 to 2008.