KOSPI Closes Up 1.37%, Nikkei 225 Gains 0.69%

The KOSPI's outperformance against the Nikkei, with chipmakers SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics leading, points to semiconductor names driving the session rather than broad-based regional strength. That concentration matters because it ties Korean index performance more tightly to memory-chip sentiment than to domestic macro signals. Whether that leadership broadens beyond large-cap tech is the open question for the next session.