Chonbuk, given a bye to the single-elimination phase of the competition, will host Urawa in the second leg on Sept. 26.

Urawa finished top in Group E of the preliminary round with 10 points from six games.

Chonbuk defeated Syria's Al Karma 3-2 on aggregate in last year's final.

Seongnam Ilhwa down Al Karama

Chonbuk's Korean rivals Seongnam Ilhwa fared better, overcoming slippery conditions at home to fight back from 1-0 down and beat last year's runners-up Al Karama, of Syria, 2-1.

Al Karama's Senegalese striker Senghor Koupouleni stunned the home side when he headed home a rebound on nine minutes after Zyad Chaabo's shot crashed against the bar.

But the introduction of Seongnam's substitute striker Kim Min-ho proved inspired as he led his team's comeback in the 72nd minute by scoring the equaliser only two minutes after coming on for midfielder Kim Cheol-ho.

Karama had barely restarted before Cho Byung-kuk gave the Koreans the lead within 90 seconds by heading in Kim Do-heon's corner.

In the other quarter-final matches later on Wednesday, Iran's Sepahan host Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale while Al Wahda, of the United Arab Emirates, are at home to Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal.