Kim spent a few days on trial at West Brom in December 2007,[2] and could be loaned to the club from February with an option for a permanent switch at the end of the season.[3] He scored his first goal for West Brom in the final match of the season against Queens Park Rangers, eight minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute. West Brom went on to win 2–0, securing them the Football League Championship title and promotion to the Premier League.[4]
On 28 May, he completed the move to West Brom for £550,000.[5] Kim made his Premier League debut on 16 August 2008 against Arsenal, where they lost the match 1–0. He scored once after the permanent move, in a 2–2 draw with Burnley in the FA Cup on 24 January 2009.[6] After one and a half years in West Bromwich, he returned to South Korea.[7]
Kim played as a main playmaker for the national under-23 team in 2004 Summer Olympics, 2002 and 2006 Asian Games, whereas he was criticised for his unstable performance in senior team.[10] It was his biggest desire to play in the FIFA World Cup, but he finally could not appear in a World Cup match.[11] While he was a member of South Korea's squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup,[12] he had to watch his team's matches on the bench.
On 14 June 2008, Kim accomplished his first international hat-trick in a World Cup qualifier against Turkmenistan.[13]
Personal life
Kim is married to Jung Hye-won, who gave birth to their son on 12 August 2008. He delayed his return to Korea to visit his son for the first time, in order to participate in the opening games of the 2008–09 Premier League season.[14]
Career statistics
Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[15][16]