Bargain-hunting in tech stocks lifts South Korean shares to a modest close higher on Friday.

South Korean stocks closed slightly higher on Friday, as investors bought large-cap technology shares on dips, offsetting concerns over rising interest rates and oil prices. The Korean won strengthened against the U.S. dollar. The KOSPI opened lower but turned higher, closing up 32.39 points, or 0.45%, at 7,003.74. As of 3:30 p.m., the won was quoted at 1,350.6 per dollar, up 7.6 won from the previous session's close.