In March 1939, Kim was promoted to lieutenant colonel soon after returning Seoul, reassigned to the 78th Infantry Regiment of the IJA 20th Division, located in Yongsan. He awarded the Order of the Golden Kite, 3rd class. In 1944, Kim was further promoted to colonel; he was active on the home front in Korea during this time, giving speeches at schools and publishing articles in the official newspaper "Maeil Sinbo" encouraging Korean youths to volunteer to serve in the Imperial Japanese Army. He was also instrumental in the implementation of the draft on the Korean peninsula, which began from January 20, 1944.