Park Jeongah led the Korean scorers with 26 points, including 24 spikes, and 18-year-old middle blocker Lee Juah added 14, with three blocks and six service aces. Korea served 10 aces in total.
For T&T, Channon Thompson and Darlene Ramdin both contributed 14 points.
With both teams looking for their first win before heading for home, Korea held a slight advantage for much of the opening set thanks to the spiking of middle blocker Kim Su Ji and wing spiker Park Jeongah, who came into this match having outscored her illustrious captain Kim Yeon Koung.
For T&T, Darlene Ramdin was in excellent form on the left wing and Channon Thompson also maintained her impressive spiking. The T&T serve reception was struggling, though, which enabled Korea to keep the points coming.
Park Jeongah was influential down the stretch, forcing T&T into a second TO trailing 23-21, and they returned for Thompson to smash T&T level at 23-23. T&T missed one set point at 24-23 before a Kim block ended the first set 26-24 on Korea's first opportunity.
In the second set, Korea's block forced T&T into a TO trailing 6-2 and their serve reception also handed Korea a few easy points. Korea extended their lead to six points at 11-5, bringing T&T's second TO so early in the second set.
T&T's form had deserted them completely at this point as the inspirational Kim blocked everything that came her way. Sinead Jack tried to get her team moving with a fierce winner at the net and both Ramdin and Thompson responded with stylish spikes of their own.
A gentle ace from southpaw setter Lee Hyo Hee and spike from 18-year-old middle blocker Lee Juah - enjoying her chance to start the match - helped Korea close out the second set 25-16 for 2-0.
T&T were determined to prolong their World Championship debut and won the first four points of the third set and led 8-4 at the first TTO with Ramdin prominent again and captain Renele Forde troubling the Korean reception with her floating serves.
Jack, Ramdin and Jalicia Ross capitalised on the indecision in the Korean ranks to keep their team moving forward to 16-11 at the second TTO. Southpaw Esdelle and a sizzling Thompson jump serve ace extended the lead. From 23-19, T&T fell apart and Korea stormed back to win 25-23 with a finish from Park.