Van Gerwen, who is now the only Dutchman left in the competition, defied nine maximums from his opponent to reach the third round at the Alexandra Palace for the first time.
King, who reached the last four back in 2009, missed chances to win the first and fourth sets, which proved to be vital in the final outcome.
King, who enjoyed a whitewash victory over Australia's Geoff Kime in the first round, hit a 180 with his first three darts and landed double eight to secure a break of throw after van Gerwen missed three chances to hold in the opening leg.
Van Gerwen hit back superbly by converting a 148 checkout to level and then hit double top at the first time of asking to take the third.
The 22-year-old Dutchman, who defeated Colin Osborne in his first match, missed two darts for the set in the fourth leg and King capitalised by landing double eight to force a decider.
The conclusion to the first set proved to be a dramatic affair, as King missed four darts at double eight to win the set and van Gerwen landed double 16 with his third dart to convert a 74 finish and edge ahead.
King recovered from the loss of the first set to win the second without reply from the young Dutchman to level the match.
The number 12 seed hit a 13-dart finish to win the first leg, and the second followed on double two before King hit double eight to win the set.
Van Gerwen started the third set superbly with a 158 checkout, but King levelled by taking out 86 before the youngster forged ahead again by landing double top with his first dart after the Englishman had missed a dart at the same bed.
The Dutch ace then took out 64 in the next leg to win the set and lead the match for the second time.
Both players held throw in the opening two legs of the fourth set before King landed a fantastic 132 checkout, completed on the bullseye.
King missed two darts to win the set in the fourth leg, and van Gerwen hit a pressure double seven for an 85 finish as he snatched the leg to level.
The deciding leg saw King hit a 180, only for van Gerwen to hit two of his own - but after missing a dart at the bullseye, the Dutchman returned to punish a missed double nine from the world number 12 to square the game and land double eight.
That put van Gerwen 3-1 up, and he managed to hold throw at the start of the fifth set, after King was guilty of missing two more darts at doubles.
King hit double four to claim the second leg before van Gerwen landed double eight to move a leg away from the match.
The Bradwell thrower hit his ninth 180 of the match in process of winning the fourth leg, but two 180s in the decider from van Gerwen, followed by double eight, ended the match.
"I hit the right shots at the right times and that proved to be really important for me," said van Gerwen, who now faces Simon Whitlock in the third round.
"I feel confident at the moment. I have reached the third round of this tournament for the first time and I hope to go further."
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