Second-half goals from Yeom Ki-hoon, Lee chun-soo and debutante Lee Kun-ho wrapped up a well-deserved victory for Pim Verbeek's men on a night when the hosts did not appear to miss their injured overseas stars.

Lee Dong-gook, appearing for the national team for the first time in 15 months, had the first attempt after eight minutes but the Middlesbrough striker's low shot from distance was cleanly gathered by Iraq goalkeeper Noor Sabri.

The hosts controlled the opening period and had another opportunity after 20 minutes but Choi Sung-kuk could not hook Lee's bouncing throughball past Noor.

Choi drew another sharp save from the goalkeeper a minute later with a low shot on the turn from the edge of the box before Kim Sang-sik's pass found Lee in space, but the shot from 'The Lion King' was turned around the near post by the busy Noor.

Iraq almost snatched the lead against the run of play after 33 minutes with their only real attack of the first period when they outnumbered the Korean defence after breaking quickly from a corner, but Kim Yong-dae saved Hawar Mulla Mohammed's low shot.

Four minutes after the restart, Kim Do-heon blasted well wide when in space on the edge of the Iraqi box but, seconds later, Yeom broke the deadlock.

A deep cross from the right from Oh Beom-seok was palmed into the path of the Jeonbuk winger by Noor and he slotted home from close range.

Iraq nearly levelled immediately afterwards but Kim Yong-dae pushed Younis Mahmoud's fierce half-volley over the bar and the Korean stopper was called into action again on 69 minutes as he pushed Nashrat Akram's shot around the right-hand post.

However, Lee Chun-soo doubled Korea's advantage in the 80th minute when he met Oh's cross with a firm header in the box before turning provider for new-boy Lee Kun-ho to volley home the third five minutes from the end.

South Korea travel back to Seoul for a final friendly against Uzbekistan on July 5 before they get their Asian Cup campaign under way six days later.

Verbeek's side have been drawn in Group D alongside Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and co-hosts Indonesia, while Iraq will face co-hosts Thailand, Oman and Australia in Group A.