SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics each rose about 1%.

A U.S. judge has temporarily blocked the transaction between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD.O).

South Korea's exports rose 52.3% YoY in July 1-20 as AI-driven semiconductor demand pushed chip shipments up 180% to 22.1 bln dlr, customs data showed. Total exports were 54.9 bln dlr versus 36.0 bln dlr a year earlier. Imports increased 20.0% to 42.7 bln dlr, leaving a trade surplus of 12.2 bln dlr. Auto exports fell 10.6% to 3.24 bln dlr. Exports to China nearly doubled to 13.3 bln dlr; shipments to the US rose 39.6% to 8.96 bln dlr. Year-to-date exports through Monday reached 551.2 bln dlr, up 48.7% YoY.