Two goals in the first quarter by Gurjit Kaur (2') and Deepika (14') put India in a commanding position, while Poonam Rani's field goal in the 47th minute secured the victory for the visitors against South Korea.
India were trailing 0-4 after the third quarter but scored two quick goals through Ramandeep Singh in the fourth quarter to avoid a whitewash.
The South Koreans came from behind twice in the match but India had the last laugh as they kept their nerves to register a 3-2 win on Tuesday.
The experienced mid-fielder exuded confidence that India can come up with a solid show in the season-opening event which also features England, Ireland and hosts Malaysia.
After having ended 2017 by winning the bronze medal in the World League Final in Bhubaneswar, the Indian hockey team began preparations for the upcoming assignments including Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and Commonwealth Games this year.
For India, Ramandeep Singh (29, 53), Nilakanta Sharma (42) and Mandeep Singh (49) were the goal scorers before the shootout.
Sjoerd Marijne-coached India began the match with disciplined structure, playing two-touch hockey to rotate the ball swiftly and accurately to pave their way into Belgium's striking circle.
Lalit Upadhyay (7th minute), Harjeet Singh (32nd) and Rupinder Pal Singh (36th) scored for India while New Zealand's goals came from sticks of Daniel Harris (23rd) and Kane Russell (37th).
Tom Boon (4th minute) and Sebastien Dockier (36th) found the target for Belgium while Mandeep Singh (19th) was India's lone goal scorer.
Both teams played out an exciting first quarter, though it was Belgium who constantly tested the Indian defence, moving the ball swiftly while creating plenty of opportunities in the striking circle.
Rupinder Pal Singh, Dilpreet Singh and debutant Vivek Prasad led India's rout of Japan by scoring two goals each.
India, bronze medallist in 2015, finished last in Pool B after garnering just one point from one draw and two losses and will now take on the world No. 2 side in the knockout round on Wednesday.
The coach said that the players first need to find out what went wrong and then address those loopholes.
The HWL final will be the first real test for India's new chief coach Sjoerd Marijne, who took over just two months ago from the legendary Roelant Oltmans.
Asian champions India are placed in a relatively easy but tricky Pool B alongside Pakistan, the last edition's bronze medallists England, Malaysia and Wales.
While preparing for the Hockey World League Final, the Indian team will play practice matches against Olympic Gold medallists Argentina on November 27 and England on November 28 respectively.
Rupinder's inclusion in the HWL Final squad will add sheen to India's already potent penalty corner area which also has the likes of Harmanpreet, Varun Kumar and Amit Rohidas.
In the Asia Cup, Sardar Singh shunned his playmaker role in the midfield for young skipper Manpreet Singh and played as the 'free defender'
Rani added that the win in Asia Cup final has boosted the team's confidence ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth and Asian Games.
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