After 120 minutes of goalless action, in which Kang Min-soo was controversially sent off for Korea, the 2002 World Cup semi-finalists fought for almost an hour with ten men to enter extra time and penalties for the third time in six days.
The win means that Korea will qualify automatically for the 2011 Asian Cup.
It was a lively first half with both sides having chances. Korean corners caused problems for the Japanese defence and a Yeom Ki-hoon shot from outside the area fizzed just wide of the post.
Just before the break, Lee Woon-jae pulled off a super reflex save from Yuji Nakazawa who blasted the ball goalwards from a yard out.
Lee Chun-soo almost headed Korea in the lead ten minutes after the restart but saw his effort bounce overt the bar.
A minute later, Korea were down to ten men as defender Kang Min-soo was shown a second yellow card after a foul on Naohiro Takahara. It was a very harsh decision as contact seemed minimal.
Coach Pim Verbeek and two members of his coaching staff were also given marching orders for protesting the decision.
After 73 minutes, Korea’s goalkeeper was in action again, saving smartly from a shot from Naotake Hanyu who let fly from inside the area.
Korea defended with spirit and dedication as they entered a third extra-time in the space of six days. In extra-time Hanyu came the closest when his fierce shot was blocked on the line by substitute Kim Chi-gon after 116 minutes.
Two minutes later, Lee saved well from Hisato Sato.
Penalty shootout (Korea first)
1: Cho Jae-jin scored. Shunsuke Nakamura scored
2.Oh Beom-seok scored. Yasuhito Endo scored.
3: Lee Keun-ho scored. Yuki Abe scored.
4: Lee Ho scored. Yuichi Komano scored.
5: Kim Jin-kyu scored. Yuji Nakazawa scored.
6: Kim Chi-woo scored. Naotake Hanyu saved.
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