Samsung Electronics and SK hynix were strong in early trading on the 14th.
It is seen as reflecting eased geopolitical risk after news that semiconductor exports hit a record high in volume the previous day, and that overnight Iran expressed willingness to negotiate with the United States.
As of 9:07 a.m. that day, on the Korea Exchange, Samsung Electronics was trading at 206,000 won, up 5,000 won (2.49%) from the previous session. At the same time, SK hynix was also trading at 1.08 million won, up 3.85% from the previous session.
Earlier, the Korea Customs Service announced on the 13th the "export and import status for April 1–10," saying semiconductor exports reached an all-time high. Semiconductor exports totaled $8.573 billion, up 152.5% from the same period a year earlier. Semiconductors' share of total exports also rose by 15.6 percentage points to 34%.
The prospect of negotiations between the United States and Iran raised overnight also helped improve investor sentiment. U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on the 13th, "We have heard from the Iranians, and they want to make a deal very badly." Iran, however, did not officially confirm the remark.