'Headbutt King' Kim Il to be Buried Today (22nd) at National Daejeon National Cemetery
The Fifth Among Athletes Including the Late Son Ki-jeong
The late Kim Il during his active career wearing the championship belt / Photo by Korea Sports Council
View original image[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] Professional wrestler 'Headbutt King' the late Kim Il will be interred at the National Cemetery on the 22nd.
The Korean Sports Council announced the day before that Kim Il will be interred at the National Daejeon National Cemetery's National Social Contributors Burial Site at 11 a.m. on that day.
According to the Sports Council, the National Cemetery Interment Review Committee of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs recognized Kim Il's contributions to the development of Korean sports and gave final approval for his interment at the National Cemetery on the 2nd of last month.
This marks the fifth time a sports figure has been interred at the National Cemetery, following the late Sohn Ki-jung (marathon) in 2002, the late Min Kwan-sik (former Korean Sports Council president) in 2006, and the late Seo Yun-bok (marathon) and late Kim Sung-jip (weightlifting) in 2019.
Kim Il was born in 1929 in Goheung, Jeonnam. While active as a Ssireum wrestler, he went to Japan in 1956 and the following year entered the first class of students at the Rikidozan Gym, debuting as a professional wrestler.
He gained fame by winning titles such as the World Wrestling Association (WWA) Tag Champion in 1963, North America Tag Champion in 1964, Far East Heavyweight Champion in 1965, Tokyo All Asia Tag Champion in 1966, WWA Heavyweight Champion in 1967, and Tokyo International Tag Champion in 1972. Especially, with his 180 cm stature and powerful headbutts, he earned the nickname 'Headbutt King.'
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After retiring in 1980, he devoted himself to business and nurturing future talents. He battled cerebrovascular diseases caused by wrestling aftereffects and passed away in October 2006 at the age of 77.
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