In the 1990s, Kim, then a fine climber racking up 5.12 on rock, participated in two Karakoram expeditions organized by University of Seoul Alpine Club: Great Trango (6286m, 1993) and Gasherbrum IV (7925m, 1996). In both expeditions Kim climbed at the forefront. Meanwhile, his competent climbs often exhibited recklessness. An audacious penchant characterized Kim's as well as part of his club's approach to mountaineering, and it was seldom regarded anomalous or unwarranted within the grandiose alpine-club culture in his generation. In the impregnable east face of Gasherbrum IV, for example, Kim's pair climbed up to 7450m. The leader Kim faced an impasse: the rocky face was crystal solid, with no crack to secure protection. Let the rope go if I got a fall! shouted the gutty young Kim to his belayer. Years later Kim referred to this and other moments in the 90s as my immature younger years when I pursued only great achievements on mountains.