They now face defending champions Taiwan, which advanced with a 4-3 win over Japan in extra innings later Thursday.
Cleveland Indians’ outfielder Choo Shin-soo, returning to Asia to play for South Korea, hit a home run — his third in Guangzhou — while Kim Tae-kyun of the Japanese champion Chiba Lotte Marines drove in two runs.
China rallied with a run in the top of the third inning but managed only four hits and struck out eight times.
“I was a bit nervous at the beginning,” Choo said. “So were my teammates, but we’re getting better.” He said the Chinese team was stronger than he had expected, and said they had improved their game in the past 10 years.
The South Koreans are seeking to win back the gold after settling for bronze at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. They had won the gold at the two previous Asian Games.
Japan, trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the ninth inning, tied the game with a three-run homer by right fielder Toshiyuki Hayashi to send it to extra innings.
Under international rules, the 10th inning began with runners placed on first and second base. The runners moved up and Taiwan scored the eventual winning run when second baseman Chen Yung-chi grounded out to first.
