South Korea's benchmark KOSPI index rose 0.3% to 2,581.18 points in early trading, driven by gains in semiconductor stocks. The Trump administration's plan to adjust US export restrictions on artificial intelligence chips has helped boost local semiconductor stocks, with retail investors being net buyers. Memory chip maker SK Hynix rose 2.2% to supply high-bandwidth memory products to US artificial intelligence chip giant Nvidia. Chip-making equipment supplier Hanmi Semiconductor rose 3.0%. Samsung Electronics, a major stock, also rose 1.1%.

South Korea's benchmark KOSPI index rose 0.3% to 2,581.18 points in early trading, driven by gains in semiconductor stocks. The Trump administration's plan to adjust US export restrictions on artificial intelligence chips has helped boost local semiconductor stocks, with retail investors being net buyers. Memory chip maker SK Hynix rose 2.2% to supply high-bandwidth memory products to US artificial intelligence chip giant Nvidia. Chip-making equipment supplier Hanmi Semiconductor rose 3.0%. Samsung Electronics, a major stock, also rose 1.1%.