In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI closed at 4,129.68, up 0.5 percent, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ also edged up 0.5 percent to 919.67.
Chip heavyweights led the market. Samsung Electronics surged 5.3 percent to 117,000 won ($81), while SK hynix rose 1.9 percent to 599,000 won, supported by continued strengthening in DRAM prices.
Elsewhere market breadth remained weak, with decliners outnumbering advancers 643 to 246, as foreign and institutional buying was concentrated largely in semiconductor shares.
LG Energy Solution fell 1.8 percent to 383,500 won, Hyundai Motor slipped 1 percent to 286,000 won, and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries declined 1.4 percent to 512,000 won. KB Financial Group lost 1.2 percent to 124,600 won, while Doosan Enerbility dropped 3 percent to 73,600 won. Kia fell 1 percent to 119,800 won, and Hanwha Aerospace eased 0.9 percent to 870,000 won.
Entertainment stocks moved broadly lower, with Hybe down 2.6 percent to 314,500 won, JYP Entertainment off 1.5 percent to 71,100 won, SM Entertainment sliding 3.5 percent to 124,400 won, and YG Entertainment falling 2.4 percent to 64,500 won.
The Korean won strengthened amid broad strengthening of East Asian peers led by the Chinese yuan. The dollar ended Seoul session at 1,440.3 won, down 9.5 won from Wednesday. The greenback also weakened against the yen, slipping 0.65 yen to 155.74, even as the dollar index edged slightly higher to 97.68.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 held firm, up 0.5 percent at 50,662.22 as of 3:41 p.m., supported by chip-related shares. China’s Shanghai Composite Index edged down 1.09 points to 3,958.53.
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