* KOSPI falls, foreigners net buyers

* Korean won weakens against U.S. dollar

* South Korea benchmark bond yield rises

* For the midday report, please click

SEOUL, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares ended at a five-week low on Thursday, weighed down by elevated U.S. yields and a firmer dollar, as minutes of the Federal Reserve meeting signaled a sooner-than-expected start to rate hikes, dampening risk appetite.

** The Korean won weakened to its lowest level in around 17 months, while the benchmark bond yield rose.

** The benchmark KOSPI closed down 33.44 points, or 1.13%, at 2,920.53, following a 1.18% decline on Wednesday.

** Among the heavyweights, chip giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix fell 0.65% and 0.40%, respectively, while platform companies Naver and Kakao dropped 4.65% and 5.21% each.

** According to minutes of the Fed's December policy meeting, U.S. central bank policymakers said a "very tight" job market and unabated inflation might require it to raise rates sooner and begin reducing its overall asset holdings.

** Institutional investors extended their sell-off in equities that went ex-dividend on Dec. 29, having sold net 5.86 trillion won ($4.87 billion) worth of KOSPI shares during their six-day selling spree.

** Foreigners, however, were net buyers of 182.5 billion won worth of shares.

** Only those who purchased equities by Dec. 28 can receive dividend payments, which led to a buying spree by institutional and foreign investors.

** The won ended at 1,201.0 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, its lowest close since July 24, 2020 and 0.34% lower than its previous close.

** In offshore trading, the won was quoted at 1,201.6, while in non-deliverable forward trading its one-month contract was quoted at 1,202.5.

** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year treasury bonds fell 0.43 point to 108.22.

** The benchmark 10-year yield rose by 10.5 basis points to 2.480%. ($1 = 1,202.4800 won) (Reporting by Joori Roh; Editing by Rashmi Aich)