Dr. Kim received a Bachelor's degree in History from the University of Illinois and then pursued a career in oriental medicine. After receiving a Master of Traditional Oriental Medicine degree from Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine in California in 1998, Dr. Kim earned a Ph.D. in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Sangji University in Wonju, Korea, with concentrations in acupuncture and moxibustion. Dr. Kim was also an adjunct professor at Sangji, lecturing both in theories of oriental medicine and English. Dr. Kim was also chief researcher for the Korea Research Institute of Geriatrics, where he was in charge of publishing a monthly journal on longevity and health regimens, before joining Sangji University.
Dr. Kim is secretary-general of the International Pharmacopuncture Institute, and is a board member of the Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute, as well as a member of the International Society for Complementary Medicine Research.