Michael Ballack scored with 15 minutes left and propelled Germany into the 2002 World Cup final with a 1-0 victory over co-host South Korea.

Germany will meet the winner of the second semifinal between Brazil and Turkey in Saitama, Japan. The loser will play South Korea for third-place.

Oliver Neuville's run down the right flank set up the goal. His low cross split two Korean defenders and Marco Bode left it for a striding Ballack. The 25-year-old Bayer Leverkusen midfielder's powerful shot was blocked by goalkeeper Lee Woon Jae, but Ballack put home the rebound.

"He (Ballack) did score the winning goal, not only in this game, but the previous game (against the U.S.) as well," Germany coach Rudi Voeller said. "It's a great pity he will have to miss the final, not only because he scored the goal, but because he is one of the best players."

Germany will be without Ballack in the final on Sunday in Yokohama, Japan. He picked up a second yellow card in the knockout stages and will serve an automatic one-game suspension.

"For me it is tough that I can't play. When the dream of playing in the World Cup final is destroyed, it is the most bitter pill for a footballer to swallow," Ballack said. "But I am delighted the team has done it. We were not among the favorites before the tournament. But we believed in ourselves. We have got a good team."

A three-time World Cup winner, Germany made the final for the fifth time in the last eight tournaments and seventh overall. The win also marked the 50th all-time for the European country in World Cup play. Only Brazil, which has participated in all World Cup tournaments, has more wins with 58.

"We were very compact on defense," Voeller said. "We changed the defense around a bit and played with the line of four. Throughout the game, we were able to create goal-scoring opportunities. I think we were the deserved winners of the match."

South Korea, the first Asian team to reach the semifinals of a World Cup, defended admirably. But one mistake proved too many against the Germans, who have conceded just one goal in six matches at this tournament. That goal came in the closing seconds of extra-time against Ireland in group play.

The surprising Korean run in the 2002 World Cup, which included victories against and eliminations of traditional powers Portugal, Italy and Spain, came to an end.

"Germany had more experience, we gave them too much respect," South Korea coach Guus Hiddink said. "We are disappointed. I don't want to look for many excuses. I think some of what we did can come down to lack of experience.

"We can be proud of the boys, not just tonight, but the long run in the tournament. I hope to bring the players again to an acceptable level to go for third place."

"In retrospect, there are some things we could have done better but I have no regrets," captain Hong Myung Bo said. "The Germans were well prepared for this game."

South Korea's round-of-16 and quarterfinal matches were tainted by accusations that the co-host had received favorable treatment from referees. But no such issues appeared in the semifinal as referee Urs Meier of Switzerland handled the match well.

Ballack committed a professional foul on a 4-on-2 Korean counterattack just four minutes before his goal. That yellow card cost him a place in Sunday's final.

"Even though he knew with another yellow card he would miss the final, he still committed that tactical foul which was utterly necessary," said Voeller of Ballack's foul. "He placed himself at the service not only of the team but the whole of Germany. The entire country will understand him and applaud him."

South Korea failed to threaten with the ensuing free kick.

The Koreans were matched at their own game by the Germans -- speed. Germany won most challenges, but surprisingly proved unable to take advantage of its aerial superiority.

However, after a pair of disappointing performances en route to the semifinals, Germany finally showed its ability to produce quality play.

Carsten Ramelow started things off with a near-side shot after just two minutes.

After a dangerous 17th-minute Korean counterattack, which goalkeeper Oliver Kahn covered, Germany answered with its own quick move down the field, resulting in a shot by Neuville.

Marco Bode headed wide four minutes after the break in one of the few aerial attempts. Bode also had a 75th-minute free kick punched away by Lee.

Korea's best scoring chance came in the eighth minute, when a shot by Lee Chun Soo from just inside the box forced Kahn to make a diving save similar to the one he pulled off against American midfielder Landon Donovan in the quarterfinals.

Germany, which was not even among the favorites to advance to the latter stages prior to the World Cup, qualified to the final with three straight 1-0 wins during the knockout stages, improving its goal differential for the tournament to 14-1.

But no matter what Germany accomplishes in the final, its Asian excursion will give the team a huge boost ahead the 2006 World Cup, which the Germans are hosting.

"A few weeks ago, when we played against high-calibre opponents in the group stages (Cameroon, Ireland), nobody expected us to even go to the round of 16," Voeller said. "But once you've reached the semifinals, there's no denying that you dream about the final."