After a fierce battle down the stretch, Ok prevailed after carding a three-under-par 68, for a tournament total of 15-under-par. Kim also came in with a 68.

American Trevor Simsby fired a 67 for sole possession of third, one stroke further back.

It’s the first time that Ok has triumphed in his five-year professional career, and he was made to work right to the very end to secure it.

He started the day with a one-shot advantage and after making three birdies in a row from the 11th he had a two-shot lead and appeared on course for a comfortable victory.

However, moments after he missed 15-foot par putt on the par-3 17th, Kim, playing in the group ahead, holed a six-foot birdie putt on 18 to tie the lead on 14-under.

“I asked my caddie on 17 if he really thought I can birdie 18 and he said, ‘go for it’. I have learned a lot by playing in the final pairings recently so that really helped.” - Taehoon Ok.

With a sudden-death play-off looking a strong possibility, Ok bravely responded by hitting a masterful third shot close before confidently holing out for a lifechanging victory, which also earned him a cheque for US$270,000.

“I asked my caddie on 17 if he really thought I can birdie 18 and he said, ‘go for it’,” said the 23-year-old.

“I have learned a lot by playing in the final pairings recently so that really helped.”

He came close to winning the Kolon Korea Open this year and was tied for the lead after the third round but carded a disappointing 75 on the final day and finished joint sixth place, also tying for fifth in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, all pointing to the fact a win this year is not far away.

“This win is for my father,” added a tearful Ok, whose dad passed away when he was 10 years old. When asked what his plans will be moving forward and how he will spend his winnings he said his mother would handle that.

Pre-tournament favourite Kim said he took a lot of positives from the result despite the narrow loss.

“Actually, I wasn’t playing well coming in here, so I am pleased to have played so well and re-discovered my game as we head into a busy second half of the year,” he said.

He had been looking to win his third title of the year in Korea: in May, he claimed the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in Korea for his maiden victory on the Asian Tour and the following month he won the SK Telecom Open on the Korean PGA Tour here on Jeju Island for his eighth win on that circuit.

Simsby’s result is his best performance since claiming the Malaysian Open in March of 2022.

Korean Yunseok Gang came in with a 66, to finish fourth, while India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, carded a 67, to take fifth.

Wooyoung Cho, Korea's top amateur who fired a stunning 61 on day three, signed off with a 72 to tie for seventh.

Todd Sinnott was once again the best of the Australians on the Asian Tour, the Victorian sharing 15th at eight-under.