Korea took an early lead with an opening goal just 10 minutes into the match by Wolverhampton Wanderers' striker Hwang Hee-chan, but it was short-lived as defender Jeong Seung-hyun dampened the momentum with an own goal in the last minutes of the first half.
But Korea turned the match around to secure a 3-1 victory with a goal in the 82nd minute by Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min, followed by another goal in second-half stoppage time by striker Joo Min-kyu.
It was the country's first win under new head coach Hong Myung-bo, who was among the key players in the Korean national football team that miraculously reached the semifinals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by Korea and Japan.
Tuesday's victory also came after a scoreless draw with 96th-ranked underdog Palestine in Seoul a week earlier, amid controversies surrounding irregularities within the Korea Football Association (KFA) and the appointment of Hong in July.
There are growing complaints among fans about the association's chairman Chung Mong-gyu and the national football team due to their recent discord and disappointing performances.
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