* KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers

* Korean won strengthens against the dollar

* South Korea benchmark bond yield rises

SEOUL, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets: ** South Korean shares climbed on Friday, tracking overnight gains in Wall Street after a drop in U.S. retail sales helped sooth investors' nerves over overheated consumer spending. The Korean won strengthened, while the benchmark bond yield rose.

** The benchmark KOSPI was up 14.27 points, or 0.55%, to 2,628.07, as of 0043 GMT. The index is set for a fourth weekly gain, up 0.3% so far this week.

** U.S. retail sales fell more than expected in January, pulled down by a drop in receipts at auto dealerships and gasoline service stations.

** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics fell 0.41% and peer SK Hynix lost 1.01%, while battery maker LG Energy Solution climbed 2.78%.

** Hyundai Motor shed 1.25% and sister automaker Kia Corp lost 0.97%, while search engine Naver and instant messenger Kakao were up 2.46% and down 0.51%, respectively.

** Of the total 932 traded issues, 439 shares advanced, while 398 declined.

** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 64.3 billion won on the main board on Friday.

** The won was quoted at 1,332.2 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.14% higher than its previous close at 1,334.0.

** In offshore trading, the won was quoted at 1,332.0 per dollar, down 0.3% on the day, while in non-deliverable forward trading its one-month contract was quoted at 1,329.3.

** The KOSPI has fallen 1.02% so far this year, and lost 2.1% in the previous 30 trading sessions.

** The won has lost 3.3% against the dollar so far this year. ** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year treasury bonds fell 0.05 point to 104.40.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield rose 2 basis points to 3.424%, while the benchmark 10-year yield climbed 2.0 basis points to 3.493%.

(Reporting by Cynthia Kim; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)