The KOSPI rose more than 2 percent early on March 25, quickly reclaiming the 5,700 level. The Kosdaq also gained more than 1 percent, extending its rise.

As of 9:16 a.m., the KOSPI was up 162.70 points, or 2.93 percent, at 5,716.62 from the previous session. The index opened at 5,680.33.

Foreigners and institutions were buying, lifting the index. Foreigners bought 109.0 billion won worth of shares and institutions bought 427.1 billion won. Retail investors, meanwhile, were net sellers of 547.8 billion won.

All of the top 10 stocks by market capitalisation were higher.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics was trading at 195,900 won, up 3.27 percent from the previous session. SK Hynix rose 3.85 percent to 1,024,000 won.

Hyundai Motor rose 3.46 percent, LG Energy Solution gained 0.38 percent, SK Square added 5.04 percent, Samsung Biologics climbed 3.17 percent, Hanwha Aerospace advanced 0.97 percent, Doosan Enerbility rose 1.90 percent and Kia gained 2.85 percent.

The Kosdaq was up 19.83 points, or 1.77 percent, at 1,141.27 from the previous session.

In the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won was at 1,492.50 per dollar, up 4.50 won, or 0.30 percent, from the previous session.