Seoul shares up sharply late Wed. morning amid hopes for end to Middle East war | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
OK SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks rose sharply Wednesday, led by big-cap tech gains, as investors hoped for an end to the monthlong conflict in the Middle East. President Donald Trump said Tuesday (U.S. time) that the United States could end its military operation against Iran within "two or three weeks," saying, "All I have to do is leave Iran." Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also told European Council President Antonio Costa that Tehran has the "necessary will" to end the war, provided its adversaries guarantee it will not reignite, according to foreign media reports. Korean currency surges on Trump's signaling of end to Middle East war (2nd LD) Trump says U.S. might end war with Iran in '2 or 3 weeks' Keywords #KOSPI Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation (LEAD) BTS scores 7th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with 'Arirang' Most Saved (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold Most Viewed All Categories (LEAD) Lee urges bold measures to cope with concerns about energy situation, including emergency economic decree if needed (LEAD) Trump calls on countries to 'go get your own oil' from Strait of Hormuz, or buy it from U.S. Korea Tass news agency's delegation in Pyongyang Tass news agency's delegation in Pyongyang prev Seoul shares up sharply late Wed. morning amid hopes for end to Middle East war Next Seoul shares up sharply late Wed. morning amid hopes for end to Middle East war

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SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks rose sharply Wednesday, led by big-cap tech gains, as investors hoped for an end to the monthlong conflict in the Middle East.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 331.93 points, or 6.57 percent, to 5,384.39 as of 11:20 a.m.
The index opened nearly 5.5 percent higher, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street, and had risen further on solid institutional buying.
The Korea Exchange (KRX), the country's main bourse operator, activated a five-minute buy-side sidecar some seven minutes after the opening bell, temporarily halting program-driven buy orders in KOSPI futures.
The rally came as U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday (U.S. time) that the United States could end its military operation against Iran within "two or three weeks," saying, "All I have to do is leave Iran."
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also told European Council President Antonio Costa that Tehran has the "necessary will" to end the war, provided its adversaries guarantee it will not reignite, according to foreign media reports.
The conflict, which began in late February following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, has pushed up global oil prices amid supply disruptions, impacting global financial markets and stoking fears of inflation and an economic slowdown.
Officials work at a dealing room of Woori Bank in Seoul on April 1, 2026. (Yonhap)
In Seoul, most big-cap shares gathered ground.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics surged 9.99 percent, while chip giant SK hynix soared 8.8 percent.
Top automaker Hyundai Motor rose 8.31 percent, while its sister affiliate Kia advanced 4.75 percent.
Leading battery maker LG Energy Solution went up 0.89 percent, and artificial intelligence investment firm SK Square spiked 6.54 percent.
Bio giant Samsung Biologics climbed 2.93 percent, and Celltrion gained 2.94 percent.
Defense giant Hanwha Aerospace jumped 7.21 percent, and nuclear power plant builder Doosan Enerbility went up 6.97 percent.
Leading financial firm KB Financial grew 4.16 percent, and major steelmaker POSCO rose 2.56 percent.
Shipbuilders opened mixed. Leading shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy dropped 4.09 percent, while its rival Hanwha Ocean increased 4.33 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,507.5 won against the greenback at 11:20 a.m., up 22.6 won from the previous session.
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)
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Seoul shares up sharply late Wed. morning amid hopes for end to Middle East war
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Seoul shares up sharply late Wed. morning amid hopes for end to Middle East war

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- Korea's strong backlash against growing S.

### Areas for Consideration
- Korean currency surges on Trump's signaling of end to Middle East war (2nd LD) Trump says U.S. might end war with Iran in '2 or 3 weeks' Keywords #KOSPI Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation (LEAD) BTS scores 7th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with 'Arirang' Most Saved (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold Most Viewed All Categories (LEAD) Lee urges bold measures to cope with concerns about energy situation, including emergency economic decree if needed (LEAD) Trump calls on countries to 'go get your own oil' from Strait of Hormuz, or buy it from U.S.

### Implications
- President Donald Trump said Tuesday (U.S. time) that the United States could end its military operation against Iran within "two or three weeks," saying, "All I have to do is leave Iran." Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also told European Council President Antonio Costa that Tehran has the "necessary will" to end the war, provided its adversaries guarantee it will not reignite, according to foreign media reports.
- Korean currency surges on Trump's signaling of end to Middle East war (2nd LD) Trump says U.S. might end war with Iran in '2 or 3 weeks' Keywords #KOSPI Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation (LEAD) BTS scores 7th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with 'Arirang' Most Saved (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold Most Viewed All Categories (LEAD) Lee urges bold measures to cope with concerns about energy situation, including emergency economic decree if needed (LEAD) Trump calls on countries to 'go get your own oil' from Strait of Hormuz, or buy it from U.S.
- Korean Air to enter emergency management mode over soaring fuel costs Gov't proposes 26.2 tln-won extra budget to cushion impact of Middle East tensions Declassified documents show N.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers percent, end, seoul topics. Notable strengths include discussion of percent. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 674.