Featuring in their first-ever global final, Korea Republic struck first through Lee Kang-in, who converted his penalty in the fifth minute after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check determined that captain Hwang Taeh-yeon was tripped inside the right edge of the box.

Korea Republic will meet Ukraine in Saturday's final, with the Europeans having edged Italy 1-0 in their semi-final.

It will be Korea Republic's first appearance in the final, having lost in the semi-finals of the 1983 edition and comes after the East Asians opened their campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Portugal in the group stage.

Choi Jun’s neat 39th minute finish helped seal his side’s place in Saturday’s title showdown with Ukraine as Korea Republic – after losing their opening match to Portugal – recorded a fifth successive victory at the global extravaganza in Poland.

The win represented another memorable moment for the Koreans at a tournament where they have shone brightly, with a clearly delighted Chung adamant that, given the undoubted progress being made, there is still more to come from his talented charges.

Lee Ji-sol's headed goal in added time made it 2-2 to force the match into extra-time where Korea Republic then took the lead through Cho Young-wook, only for Senegal to draw level again.

The penalties were another heart-stopping affair as Korea Republic missed their first two attempts before eventually sealing their first FIFA U-20 World Cup semi-final spot with a 3-2 win, with Ecuador awaiting them on Tuesday.

Korea Republic, whose campaign ended at the last-16 stage when they hosted the 2017 edition, will now meet Senegal in the last eight on Saturday.

Both Asian teams went into their respective matches needing to win after having lost their opening ties but while Korea Republic held on strongly after Kim Hyun-woo gave them the lead in the 69th minute, Saudi Arabia saw Mali come from behind twice to take all three points deep in added time.

Korea Republic defeated six-time champions Argentina 2-1 in their final Group F match to finish second in the standings behind the South Americans on goal difference, sealing a Round of 16 showdown with Asian rivals Japan on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, exited the tournament after falling to their third consecutive defeat as they went down 2-1 to Panama in Group E.