* KOSPI rises nearly 1%, foreigners net sellers

* Korean won strengthens against U.S. dollar

* South Korea benchmark bond yield flat

* For the midday report, please click

SEOUL, May 17 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** Chipmakers led an almost 1% rise in South Korean shares on Tuesday as markets globally took confidence from China's plan to ease strict COVID-19 lockdowns. The Korean won jumped, while the benchmark bond yield was flat.

** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 ended up 23.86 points, or 0.92%, at 2,620.44, marking the highest close since May 6.

** Leading the gains, technology giant Samsung Electronics 005930.KS and peer SK Hynix 000660.KS surged 1.96% and 1.81%, respectively, while battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS jumped 2%.

** Despite shockingly weak economic data for April, recession worries around the Chinese economy have dwindled due to planned easing of lockdown measures, said Daishin Securities analyst Lee Kyoung-min.

** In Beijing, authorities have extended guidance to work from home in four districts, but have not enforced a city-wide lockdown, while Shanghai aims to end strict measures starting next month.

** Foreigners were net sellers of 159.8 billion won ($125.36 million) worth of shares on the main board.

** Of the total traded issues of 927, the number of advancing shares was 501.

** The won was last quoted at 1,275.0 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC , 0.71% higher than its previous close at 1,284.1.

** The currency strengthened for a third straight session and marked the best daily performance since April 29.

** In offshore trading, the won KRW= was quoted at 1,275.0 per dollar, up 0.4% from the previous day, while in non-deliverable forward trading its one-month contract KRW1MNDFOR= was quoted at 1,275.2.

** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year treasury bonds KTBc1 rose 0.03 points to 105.33 in late afternoon trade.

** The most liquid 3-year Korean treasury bond yield fell by 1.8 basis points to 3.033%, while the benchmark 10-year yield fell by 0.3 basis point to 3.288%. ($1 = 1,274.7200 won)
Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Aditya Soni