Dhurgham Ismael (No.15) of Iraq competes with Son Heung-min of South Korea during their Asian Cup semifinal match at Stadium Australia on Monday in Sydney, Australia. After winning 2-0, South Korea advanced to the final and will play the winners of the other semifinal between hosts Australia and the UAE. Photo: CFP

South Korea moved one step closer to ­burying their 55-year Asian Cup hoodoo when they grabbed a goal in each half to beat Iraq 2-0 on Monday and set up a final against Australia or the UAE.

Lee Jeong-hyeop gave the Taegeuk Warriors the lead with a 20th-minute header and defender Kim Young-gwon lashed the second into the net five ­minutes after the break as the South ­Koreans reached the final for the first time since 1988.

Iraq, perhaps emotionally and physically drained by their dramatic quarterfinal victory over Iran, played with plenty of passion but were unable to become the first side to breach the Korean defense in five matches in Australia.

Their hopes of another fairy-tale run to the title to match their 2007 triumph were washed away in the Sydney rain and it is twice champions South Korea who will return to Sydney's Stadium Australia on Saturday in search of a first Asian Cup crown since 1960.

South Korea had looked the most likely to score in a cagey opening to the match with Son Heung-min drawing a fingertip save out of Jalal Hassan with a long-range effort.

A minute later the Koreans were in front, Kim Jin-su curling a free kick into the box and Lee rising above the Iraqi defense to head down and into the net.

Iraq skipper Younis Mahmoud was making his presence felt up front but the Koreans are not a side to be bullied at the back and he was more often than not battling alone in the first half.

Iraq gave their supporters a lift with a flurry of attacks just before the break when winger Amjed Kalaf's raking drive forced Kim Jin-hyeon to get down low to push the ball across his goal.

The South Korean goalkeeper gave the Iraqis the sniff of an equalizer when he rashly charged out of his area three minutes after the break but another two minutes on and his team's lead had been doubled.

The ball bounced around the area in an extended bout of aerial ping-pong from a Son corner before Lee chested the ball down for Kim Young-gwon to hit it first time from the edge of the box past the despairing dive of Hassan.

Iraq were forced to press forward but clear-cut opportunities were still few and far between for them while Hassan had to be at his sharpest to deny long-range efforts from South Korean skipper Ki Sung-yueng and Son inside a minute.

Kalaf continued to cause problems with his pace but there always seemed to be a South Korean foot or head to cut out the final ball and prevent a scoring chance.