Seoul: Seoul shares opened higher Friday, led by gains in technology stocks despite renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. After opening 1.09 percent higher, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) traded up 79.21 points, or 1.26 percent, at 6,375.59 as of 9:15 a.m.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the index had previously plunged 4.58 percent in the last session, primarily due to losses in technology stocks. This downturn aligned with overnight declines in U.S. stocks, where the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.85 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite saw a slight dip of 0.06 percent. The decline was attributed to uncertainties surrounding a possible agreement between the United States and Iran regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has reportedly declared its intention to deny U.S. and Israeli ships access to the strategic waterway. Moreover, it plans to demand compensation from nations it deems hostile before permitting their passage through the strait.

In the Seoul market, technology shares spearheaded the gains. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics saw a rise of 2.49 percent, and its chipmaking competitor SK hynix increased by 0.6 percent. Additionally, leading steelmaker POSCO Holdings marked a gain of 2.51 percent, while Korea Aerospace Industries advanced by 4.6 percent.

Conversely, among the decliners, top carmaker Hyundai Motor experienced a fall of 1.94 percent, and the state-run utility Korea Electric Power Corp. retreated by 1.81 percent. Meanwhile, the Korean won was trading at 1,424.70 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., representing a slight decrease of 0.6 won from the close of stock trading the previous day.