The Korea Composite Stock Price Index was displayed on an electronic board in the dealing room of Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul. South Korean stocks started trading on a positive note as Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's reassuring comments about interest rates alleviated concerns. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose by 0.43 percent to 2,792.7 in the early stages of trading. Powell's remarks about the economic progress contributed to a rise in investor confidence, leading to higher closures on Wall Street, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average increasing by 0.41 percent and the Nasdaq Composite rising by 0.84 percent. In Seoul, notable companies like Hyundai Motor and SK Innovation experienced gains, with Hyundai Motor rising by 0.37 percent and SK Innovation by 3.84 percent. LG Energy Solution, a leading battery maker, saw a significant jump of 6.4 percent, while steel giant Posco Holdings climbed by 2.05 percent. However, Samsung Electronics, the world's largest memory chipmaker, and its rival SK hynix faced declines, with Samsung Electronics dropping by 0.24 percent and SK hynix falling by 2.16 percent. The local currency, the won, was trading at 1,386 won against the US dollar, marking an increase of 2.2 won from the previous session's close.