Caretaker manager
He made his return for the club on 30 August 2020, coming on as a substitute in a 3–0 away defeat to league leaders Ulsan Hyundai. Caretaker manager Kim Ho-young would then give Ki time to regain fitness by bringing him off the bench the three following games, and his impact on the team was quickly praised for providing more stability in FC Seoul's midfield. However, on 16 September, Ki suffered another setback in a 1–0 loss against Incheon United, sustaining a hamstring injury.