The benchmark KOSPI gained 9.80 points to end at 1,764.58 on heavy buying by institutional investors.

Samsung Electronics, the nation's largest firm by value and the world's second biggest mobile phone maker, climbed 2.4 percent and the number three LG Electronics rose 1.27 percent.

Hynix Semiconductor, the world's second-largest computer-memory chipmaker, gained 6.46 percent.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011