Seoul shares open higher amid hopes for easing Mideast tensions | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
OK SEOUL, March 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares opened almost 1 percent higher Friday amid hopes the U.S. and Israel-led war against Iran, weighing heavily on global financial markets, may end sooner than expected. A dealing room at Hana Bank in Seoul on March 20, 2026 (Yonhap) nyway@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles (LEAD) Seoul shares dip nearly 3 pct on escalating Iran crisis, hawkish Fed; won slides to 17-yr low (2nd LD) Seoul stocks jump over 5 pct on chip rally (2nd LD) Korean won plunges to new 17-yr low against U.S. dollar as Iran crisis persists (LEAD) Uncertainty over U.S. monetary policy deepens amid Middle East crisis: BOK Keywords #stocks Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life Ex-U.S. officials voice concerns about Trump gov't 'vacating' deterrence assets from Indo-Pacific amid Iran war Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees Most Saved (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees (2nd LD) N. Korea, others: report (2nd LD) Korean won plunges to new 17-yr low against U.S. dollar as Iran crisis persists N. Korea to export 16 homegrown KF-21 fighter jets to Indonesia: sources Downtown Seoul to enter security lockdown for massive crowd at BTS concert Most Viewed More Most Viewed Photos N.K. stamps on ruling party's 9th congress Samsung chairman meets AMD CEO Preparations for BTS' Gwanghwamun concert Preparations for BTS' Gwanghwamun concert prev Seoul shares open higher amid hopes for easing Mideast tensions Next Seoul shares open higher amid hopes for easing Mideast tensions

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SEOUL, March 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares opened almost 1 percent higher Friday amid hopes the U.S. and Israel-led war against Iran, weighing heavily on global financial markets, may end sooner than expected.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 53.89 points, or 0.94 percent, to 5,817.11 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 0.44 percent lower, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite lost 0.28 percent, and the S&P 500 dropped 0.27 percent but pared most of their earlier losses after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said its war against Iran may end a lot faster than people think and that U.S. President Donald Trump has requested no further attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure.
Earlier this week, Israel attacked the South Pars gas field, Iran's largest, and Iran hit back with a strike on a major liquefied natural gas site in Qatar.
In Seoul, top-cap shares started mixed.
Market top-cap Samsung Electronics edged up 0.25 percent, and its chipmaking rival SK hynix went up 0.39 percent.
Auto giant Hyundai Motor gained 0.57 percent, and its sister Kia added 0.35 percent.
Leading battery maker LG Energy Solution rose 1.35 percent, and power plant manufacturer Doosan Enerbility climbed 1.41 percent.
Major bio firm Samsung Biologics advanced 1.64 percent, and Celltrion increased 0.99 percent.
Financial shares were also strong, with Shinhan Financial up 1.87 percent and Mirae Asset Securities jumping 3 percent.
On the other hand, defense giant Hanwha Aerospace dipped 2.91 percent.
Major shipbuilders HD Hyundai Heavy and Hanwha Ocean lost 0.88 percent and 0.69 percent, respectively.
The Korean won was trading at 1,488.1 won against the U.S. dollar at 9:15 a.m., jumping 12.9 won from the previous session.
On Thursday, the won hit a new 17-year low, rising above the psychological and technically critical barrier of 1,500 won.
A dealing room at Hana Bank in Seoul on March 20, 2026 (Yonhap)
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)
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Seoul shares open higher amid hopes for easing Mideast tensions
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Seoul shares open higher amid hopes for easing Mideast tensions

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- Financial shares were also strong, with Shinhan Financial up 1.87 percent and Mirae Asset Securities jumping 3 percent.
- Korea committed to expanding nuclear, missile programs; poses 'significant' threats to S.

### Areas for Consideration
- A dealing room at Hana Bank in Seoul on March 20, 2026 (Yonhap) nyway@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles (LEAD) Seoul shares dip nearly 3 pct on escalating Iran crisis, hawkish Fed; won slides to 17-yr low (2nd LD) Seoul stocks jump over 5 pct on chip rally (2nd LD) Korean won plunges to new 17-yr low against U.S. dollar as Iran crisis persists (LEAD) Uncertainty over U.S. monetary policy deepens amid Middle East crisis: BOK Keywords #stocks Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life Ex-U.S. officials voice concerns about Trump gov't 'vacating' deterrence assets from Indo-Pacific amid Iran war Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees Most Saved (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees (2nd LD) N.

### Implications
- OK SEOUL, March 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares opened almost 1 percent higher Friday amid hopes the U.S. and Israel-led war against Iran, weighing heavily on global financial markets, may end sooner than expected.
- Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 0.44 percent lower, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite lost 0.28 percent, and the S&P 500 dropped 0.27 percent but pared most of their earlier losses after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said its war against Iran may end a lot faster than people think and that U.S.
- A dealing room at Hana Bank in Seoul on March 20, 2026 (Yonhap) nyway@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles (LEAD) Seoul shares dip nearly 3 pct on escalating Iran crisis, hawkish Fed; won slides to 17-yr low (2nd LD) Seoul stocks jump over 5 pct on chip rally (2nd LD) Korean won plunges to new 17-yr low against U.S. dollar as Iran crisis persists (LEAD) Uncertainty over U.S. monetary policy deepens amid Middle East crisis: BOK Keywords #stocks Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life Ex-U.S. officials voice concerns about Trump gov't 'vacating' deterrence assets from Indo-Pacific amid Iran war Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees Most Saved (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees (2nd LD) N.
- Korea, U.S. conduct joint drills Most Viewed All Categories Qatar may have to declare force majeure on long-term LNG contract with S.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers percent, seoul, iran topics. Notable strengths include discussion of percent. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 669.