The benchmark KOSPI rose 0.39% to 3,217 on Monday, marking its fifth consecutive session of gains, led by strength in technology shares. Semiconductor firms SK Hynix (+1.28%) and Samsung Electronics (+0.72%) were top contributors to the rally. Meanwhile, investor caution persisted in select sectors, notably Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution, which fell 1.48% and 0.51% after US authorities detained 300 South Koreans at their joint battery plant in Georgia. On Sunday, President Trump urged foreign firms in the US to comply with immigration laws and prioritize hiring American workers. In response, Seoul has initiated follow-up trade and regulatory negotiations with the US, helping to ease investor uncertainty. Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo emphasized that these discussions aim to safeguard South Korean exporters, particularly in the automotive and battery sectors, from adverse effects of new trade rules while navigating ongoing geopolitical and regulatory risks.