* 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 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 and peer SK Hynix surged 1.96% and 1.81%, respectively, while battery maker LG Energy Solution 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, 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 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 was quoted at 1,275.2.
** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year treasury bonds 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)