Veteran defender Kim Hye-ri described her teammates as "desperate" to beat the Japanese ahead of Wednesday's semi-final at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
Despite being regular contenders, South Korea have never been crowned Asian champions - going closest at the last tournament in 2022 when they lost to China in the final.
"At the last edition of the tournament we failed to achieve victory at the final and that's why our goal is to win this tournament," Kim said, via an interpreter.
"For the last four years I think we've made good preparations and now every player has a desperate ambition to win the tournament."
South Korea edged out Australia on goal difference to top Group A and warmed up for their meeting with Japan with a 6-0 quarter-final thrashing of Uzbekistan.
Thirteen FIFA ranking places separate South Korea and world No. 8 Japan but the gulf is best illustrated by the fact they have not beaten their rivals since 2015.
"We are facing the best team in Asia in Japan, and I'm hoping to get a good result and also a good performance," South Korea coach Shin Sang-woo said, via an interpreter.
"It's true it's been 10 years since we defeated Japan in a competitive game but I think we've changed a lot since I was appointed as a head coach.
"We want to show a Korea Republic team which can beat Japan.
"Japanese players, they are the most technically (gifted) players in Asia."
While the Koreans had to battle for a 3-3 draw against Australia at the group stage, Japan have cruised through to the semi-finals by conceding zero goals and scoring 24, which included a 7-0 quarter-final win over the Philippines.
Japan coach Nils Nielsen rejected the suggestion his side were not battle hardened ahead of Wednesday's match, pointing to a fixture list over the last 12 months that includes games against the US and 2023 World Cup winners Spain.
"We have played nothing but tough games for the last year," Nielsen said.
"The fact that Korea had the pleasure of already showing they can match it with the best teams in this tournament, it's good for them.
"But we know we can, it's not a question for us if we can or we can't."
