Under the next manager Guus Hiddink's management, Kim began to play for the national team in earnest. Formerly an unimpressive player in the K League, he was criticized early because of his poor basic skills, but he was completed as an irreplaceable defensive midfielder, who block counterattacks of the opponent team beforehand, in Hiddink's belief. Being strong on stamina and fierce tussle, he was nicknamed the "Vacuum Cleaner" due to his relentless play. He was named in the Best XI of the tournament at the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup, in which South Korea participated to prepare the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He appeared all five games until the quarter-finals at the 2002 World Cup, but he injured his ankle during the quarter-final match against Spain. South Korea lost to Germany in the semi-finals after he quit the tournament.