As of 0042 GMT, the main KOSPI was up 2.17 percent at 1,628.48 points.
The index opened up 1.46 percent at 1,617.16 points.
**SHIPYARDS RISE ON TURNAROUND HOPES**
Shipbuilders advanced on Monday amid strengthening hopes for an industry turnaround, analysts said.
Shares in Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering jumped 6.43 percent after it said it had won an order from Angola worth about 400 billion won ($348 million).
'News of Daewoo Shipbuilding's order and a strengthening industry outlook (on views) that it has hit a bottom are helping shipbuilding stocks today,' said Cho In-karp, an analyst at Shinhan Investment Corporation.
Rises in the Baltic Dry Index, which tracks the cost of shipping key commodities, added support.
Shares in Hyundai Heavy Industries rose 2.96 percent and Samsung Heavy Industries climbed 2.67 percent.
0041 GMT
(Reporting by Jungyoun Park; Editing by Jonathan Hopfner)
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