South Korea's benchmark Kospi index posted a record 18 percent gain on Friday, reclaiming the 6,500-point level in a dramatic reversal of recent market sentiment.
The surge was fueled by a broad-based rally in semiconductor stocks, which led the charge across the board as investors digested better-than-expected earnings from Microsoft.
The tech giant's results helped ease lingering concerns over demand in the AI and data center sectors, providing a catalyst for risk-on positioning in Asian equity markets.
The sharp advance marks a significant turnaround from the index's recent trajectory, which had been weighed down by volatility and broader tech sector uncertainty.
Samsung Electronics shares jumped 8.9 percent in Seoul trading, spearheading the rebound and helping to erase losses from a turbulent Thursday session.
The strength in Samsung's stock, along with gains across other major chipmakers, underscored the pivotal role of the semiconductor industry in driving South Korea's equity performance.