The 20-year-old An won 21-14, 21-17 and will face Thailand’s unseeded Pornpawee Chochuwong in tomorrow’s final in the Korean city of Suncheon.

The last time a home player won the women’s singles was in 2015, although the annual Korea Open was cancelled for the last two years due to coronavirus concerns.

Pornpawee booked her place in the final by roaring back from losing the first game 21-17 to another Korean, Kim Ga-eun, before taking the next two by the same 21-14 scoreline.

In the men’s singles semifinals Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie, the third seed, defeated India’s fifth-seeded Kidambi Srikanth 21-19, 21-16, in another disappointing outcome for the Indian team.

Christie faces Weng Hong-yang of China after he defeated Denmark’s Victor Svendsen 22-20, 21-13 to advance to the final.