* KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers

* Korean won strengthens against dollar

* South Korea benchmark bond yield falls

* For the midday report, please click

SEOUL, March 8 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares rose more than 1% on Friday to hit their highest level in more than 21 months, led by heavyweight chipmakers tracking a rally in global peers.

** The benchmark KOSPI closed up 32.73 points, or 1.24%, at 2,680.35, its highest since May 31, 2022.

** The KOSPI rose 1.44% for the week, logging its biggest weekly gain in five.

** Chipmaker Samsung Electronics rose 1.52% and peer SK Hynix gained 4.24%, after the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index's overnight jump of more than 3%.

** Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Thursday the U.S. central bank was "not far" from gaining the confidence it needs in falling inflation to begin cutting interest rates.

** "His remarks turned more positive from the day before and lifted tech stocks," said Na Jeong-hwan, an analyst at NH Investment Securities.

** Most other index heavyweights, including battery makers, automakers, and biopharmaceutical manufacturers also firmed.

** Of the total 934 traded issues, 523 shares advanced, while 352 declined.

** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 178.6 billion won ($135.37 million) on the main board on Friday.

** The won ended onshore trade at 1,319.8 per dollar, 0.84% higher than its previous close at 1,330.9. It posted the biggest daily gain since Dec. 14.

* The won strengthened by 0.89% this week, the biggest since early February.

** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year treasury bonds rose 0.13 point to 104.83.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield fell by 4.7 basis points to 3.273%, while the benchmark 10-year yield fell by 6.2 basis points to 3.337%. ($1 = 1,319.3000 won) (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Eileen Soreng)