ENGLAND stepped up their World Cup preparations with a hard-fought 1-1 friendly draw against South Korea in the Jeju Stadium in Seogwipo today.

Stand-in skipper Michael Owen bagged his 16th international goal as Sven Goran Eriksson's men surged ahead during an impressive first half performance.

But the home side then punished slack England defending when Park Ji-Sung headed home a shock equaliser in the 52nd minute to stun the visitors.

Owen told Sky Sports: "We will expect to be a lot better as a team as we go on.

"This is another game under our belts.

"There will be a lot more pressure when the World Cup starts but we are feeling our way in, getting used to the climate, the different conditions."

With the start of the finals just 10 days away, Eriksson used a total of 19 players in what was England's penultimate friendly.

And the performance of Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves in particular gave the Swede plenty to ponder as he begins to formulate his starting line-up ahead of England's opening Group F game against Sweden on June 2.

Only three players that started the previous match against Paraguay were in Eriksson's starting line-up, Paul Scholes and strikers Michael Owen and Darius Vassell.

The match was a first international start for Danny Murphy as the England coach had to cope without the injured midfield trio of David Beckham, Nicky Butt and Kieron Dyer.

Hargreaves was also in midfield and made a telling early intervention but his pass found Owen offside.

He then released Ashley Cole down the left but his cross was blocked. It was the Bayern Munich player who released Owen in the 14th minute and his cross shot was blocked to Vassell who saw his effort cleared from the line. England were having joy with long balls over the top and Scholes found Emile Heskey beyond the defence but his first touch let him down.

But the same players combined to set up the skipper to give England the lead in the 26th minute. Heskey collected the ball in the box, fed Scholes as he burst beyond him and Owen slid the ball home after the keeper had saved.

The better chances were falling to England and Murphy picked out over-lapping Danny Mills with a bright free kick and his shot from the angle earned a corner.

At the other end the South Koreans were restricted to a series of long range shots that failed to trouble Nigel Martyn. He finally made a serious save seven minutes before the break, touching a superb 35-yard Hong Myung Bo drive over the bar.

As expected Eriksson rang the changes at the interval, introducing seven substitutes.

David James replaced Martyn in goal while Gareth Southgate, Martin Keown and Wayne Bridge slotted into a new-look back four.

Trevor Sinclair and Joe Cole joined Hargreaves in midfield with Teddy Sheringham replacing Owen in attack.

The South Koreans made no changes and consequently made the brighter start, levelling within six minutes as Park Ji-Sung was left unmarked to head home after a right wing corner had been flicked on.

The home side had their tails up and the new men were struggling to make an impact but Cole did finally produce a bit of magic to force a corner just past the hour and from Bridge's kick Keown looped a header over the bar.

In the 68th minute Mills made way for Wes Brown, the Leeds man having staked his claim for a starting place against Sweden.

Hargreaves continued to impress in midfield but Sinclair did little to suggest he might be an option in place of Dyer.

He did deliver a useful free kick but Vassell headed wide.

ENGLAND: Martyn, Mills, Ferdinand, Campbell, Ashley Cole, Hargreaves, Scholes, Murphy, Owen, Heskey, Vassell. Subs: Keown, Seaman, Brown, Southgate, Bridge, Sheringham, Joe Cole, James, Sinclair.