[Digital Today reporter Sangyeop Oh (오상엽)] South Korea's KOSPI surged more than 3 percent on June 1 to set another record high. Ahead of a second "kkangbu meeting" with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, shares in companies known as related stocks, including Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, LG Group shares and NAVER, rose and led the index higher.

The KOSPI ended up 312.23 points, or 3.68 percent, at 8,788.38. It opened up 9.52 points, or 0.11 percent, at 8,485.67, then climbed as high as the 8,800 level during the session to set a new 52-week high.

The KOSPI again broke its record closing high set on May 29. It briefly rose past the 8,870 level in intraday trade, raising expectations it could settle above 8,800, and it held its gains late in the session to finish in the upper 8,700s.

By investor type, institutions led the rise, buying a net 2.5302 trillion won. Retail investors also bought a net 381.2 billion won. Foreigners, however, sold a net 2.9133 trillion won. Despite heavy foreign selling, institutional buying supported the KOSPI's advance.

Most top market-cap stocks were higher. Samsung Electronics surged 10.09 percent to 349,000 won and SK Hynix rose 1.29 percent to 2,363,000 won.

Hyundai Motor rose 3.73 percent, Samsung Life climbed 5.53 percent and Samsung C&T gained 5.20 percent. NAVER jumped 16.03 percent, while LG Innotek rose 4.94 percent, LG Electronics climbed 29.86 percent and LG CNS gained 26.27 percent.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics fell 5.74 percent, LG Energy Solution slipped 0.66 percent and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries dropped 1.72 percent.

The market strength was seen as driven by expectations ahead of a second kkangbu meeting combined with a rise in chip heavyweights. Samsung Electronics and Samsung Electronics preferred shares posted double-digit gains, while SK Hynix was also strong, lifting the index.

Hyundai Motor, Samsung C&T, NAVER and LG Electronics and other companies mentioned as related stocks also surged together, widening the KOSPI's gains.

The Kosdaq moved in contrast to the KOSPI. It ended down 24.77 points, or 2.30 percent, at 1,050.03. The index tried to rebound early but soon turned lower and extended its decline.

The Kosdaq fell for a fifth straight session. With recent stock market funds concentrating in the KOSPI, centered on semiconductors and large blue-chip shares, Kosdaq growth stocks appear to be facing a demand gap.

While the KOSPI continued to set record highs, the Kosdaq slid to the 1,050 level, making the divergence between the two markets clearer.

In Seoul's foreign exchange market, the won stood at 1,504.30 per dollar, up 3.20 won from the previous session.