Career
Ohki had hopes of becoming a student of Japanese wrestling legend Rikidōzan, another Korean, and entered Japan illegally in 1958 to do so, but was arrested in 1959. After being released he was able to train with Rikidōzan and joined the Japan Wrestling Association, debuting in November 1959 under his real name. On September 30, 1960, Ohki defeated fellow rookie Kanji Inoki, later Antonio Inoki, who was making his debut along with Shohei Baba, later Giant Baba.
Ohki, Baba and Inoki were considered a part of a rookie trio groomed to become the eventual successors to Rikidōzan himself.
Ohki was also trained by Mr. Moto and Yoshinosato.
With Rikidōzan"s murder in 1963 Ohki returned to his homeland to raise the profile of professional wrestling there, but returned to the JWA when Toyonobori and Inoki left the promotion, though he returned the next year. With this the JWA wanted to rename him to Rikidōzan but the plan never went through.
Inoki and Baba famously left the JWA in 1972 to found the All Japan and New Japan promotions in 1972, letting Ohki become the JWA"s top star, winning the NWA International Heavyweight Championship.
In April 1973 the JWA closed and was absorbed into All Japan, and though he competed for the new organization for a time he wrestled mostly as a freelancer in Japan and a main event star in South of Korea, famously wrestling against his former fellow rookies Inoki and Baba in 1974 and 1975. Since then Ohki did not compete much, with his official retirement card on April 2, 1996 held at a weekly pro-wrestling magazine sponsored show at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. Wrestling legend Lou Thesz assisted the wheelchair-bound Ohki at this, his last public appearance in Japan.
During his career Ohki also held the Far East Heavyweight title, All Asia Heavyweight and Tag Team title four times each, NWA Texas Tag Team title and NWA International Tag Team title, also four times.
Ohki died in the Eulji General Hospital in Seoul on October 26, 2006 of a heart attack brought on by renal insufficiency and kidney failure. Finishing moves
Figure-four leglock
Signature moves
Headbutt
Nicknames
KIM Illinois
Entrance themes
"Theme One" by Cozy Powell
All Japan Pro Wrestling
All Asia Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
NWA International Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Kim Duk (2) and Umanosuke Ueda (1)
Japan Wrestling Association
All Asia Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
All Asia Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Michiaki Yoshimura (3) and Antonio Inoki (1)
NWA International Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
NWA International Tag Team Championship (1 time) – Seiji Sakaguchi
Korean Wrestling Association
Far East Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
NWA Big Time Wrestling
NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Pak Song
Worldwide Wrestling Associates
WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
WWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mr.
Moto
WWA International Television Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mr. Moto
NWA Western States Sports
NWA Western States Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Pak Song
Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996).