The benchmark KOSPI climbed 1.1% to around 3,170 on Friday, leading Asian gains despite overnight losses on Wall Street, as investors awaited Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s Jackson Hole speech for guidance on monetary policy. Markets are seeking clarity on the timing of potential US rate cuts after weak labor data and persistent inflation risks. Domestically, strength in tech and defense underpinned Seoul’s outperformance across Asia. Sentiment was lifted by a rebound in semiconductor shares after a five-day slide, with hopes that global demand conditions could steady into year-end. Blue-chips led the rally, with Samsung Electronics up 1.4% and SK Hynix rising 1.2%. Defense firms also gained ground, with Hanwha Aerospace jumping 5.3%, reflecting sustained confidence for export growth and government policy support for the sector. In contrast, selective profit-taking weighed on batteries and autos, with LG Energy Solution down 0.5% and Hyundai Motor easing 0.2%.