Sze Fei-Izzuddin found it hard to cope with the powerful world No 3 Koreans, and suffered a 14-21, 17-21 defeat in a match lasting 37 minutes at the Metropolitan Gymnasium in Tokyo.

Sze Fei-Izzuddin won US$33,250 (RM141,180) as runners-up while the winners pocketed US$70,300 (RM298,500) in the World Tour Super 750 event.

Won Ho-Seung Jae have now won twice in their three encounters against Sze Fei-Izzuddin.

The defeat came as a second disappointment of the day for Malaysia, after women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M Thinaah lost to top Chinese pair Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning in the final, also in straight games.

Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who won four World Tour titles last year, have only won once this season, after clinching the India Open crown, another Super 750 event, in January.

In a Facebook post, deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi congratulated the two pairs for their runners-up finishes.

“Continue to move forward, keep fighting. Don’t ever feel afraid or retreat. Every drop of sweat paves the way to even greater success.

“We all stand firmly behind you. For the country, for Malaysia!” he posted on Facebook.