[DigitalToday reporter Sangyeop Oh (오상엽)] South Korea's KOSPI broke above the 7,900 level early on May 12, putting the 8,000 mark within sight. After settling into the 7,800 range a day earlier, it also rewrote an intraday record high on the day, raising expectations for a first-ever move above 8,000.

As of 9:19 a.m., the KOSPI was up 108.92 points, or 1.39 percent, from the previous session at 7,931.16. The index opened up 131.17 points, or 1.68 percent, at 7,953.41 and has held in the 7,900s.

By investor type, retail investors were net buyers of 1.1013 trillion won and institutions were net buyers of 129.8 billion won, while foreigners were net sellers of 1.2498 trillion won. It marked a fourth straight day of net selling.

Most of the top stocks by market capitalisation were higher. Samsung Electronics was up 0.53 percent at 287,000 won, and SK Hynix was up 3.24 percent at 1,941,000 won.

Elsewhere, SK Square was up 1.35 percent, Hyundai Motor up 5.88 percent, LG Energy Solution up 0.11 percent, Doosan Enerbility up 3.75 percent, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries up 4.23 percent, Samsung C&T up 0.77 percent and Samsung Electro-Mechanics up 4.83 percent.

The KOSDAQ was trading up 17.36 points, or 1.44 percent, at 1,224.70 at the same time.

In Seoul's foreign exchange market, the won was at 1,476.70 per dollar, down 1.70 won.