Seoul shares rise over 1% late Friday morning on chip gains

The opening ceremony for the 2026 securities and derivatives markets is held at the Korea Exchange in Seoul, Jan. 2. Yonhap

Korean stocks traded higher late Friday morning, led by sharp gains of large-cap semiconductor shares.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 46.38 points, or 1.1 percent, to 4,260.55 as of 11:20 a.m.

The index opened higher in the first trading session of 2026 and extended gains further on solid buying by retail investors.

Top-cap shares traded mixed.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics soared 3.67 percent, while chip giant SK hynix surged 2.3 percent.

Defense giant Hanwha Aerospace advanced 1.81 percent, and nuclear power plant builder Doosan Enerbility increased 0.4 percent.

But leading battery maker LG Energy Solution slid 1.83 percent, and major chemical firm LG Chem sank 2.25 percent.

Bio giant Samsung Biologics edged down 0.18 percent, but Celltrion spiked 12.43 percent.

Leading shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy remained unchanged, while its rival Hanwha Ocean lost 0.44 percent.

Carmakers traded mixed. Top automaker Hyundai Motor went up 0.67 percent, while its sister affiliate Kia fell 0.57 percent.

Internet portal operator Naver went up 0.82 percent, but No. 1 steelmaker POSCO dropped 2.46 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,442.75 won against the greenback at 11:20 a.m., down 3.75 won from the previous session.