Korean stocks climbed by almost 1.5 percent Wednesday, as investors went bargain hunting for semiconductors. The Korean won dropped to an eight-month low against the U.S. dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 57.28 points, or 1.43 percent, to 4,056.41. The KOSPI recovered to the 4,000 level after sliding to a nine-day low the previous session. Trade volume was moderate at 354.2 million shares worth 12.7 trillion won ($8.6 billion). Winners outnumbered losers 531 to 343. "The KOSPI's rise was led by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. Without their advances, the KOSPI would have remained weak," Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities, said. Lee warned that short-term volatility, citing persisting foreign exchange risks and continued sell-off from foreign investors, may increase. Foreigners sold off a net 28.9 billion won. Institutional investors purchased a net 335.7 billion won, while retail investors offloaded a net 337.7 billion won. Large-cap shares ended mixed. Market top-cap Samsung Electronics rose 4.96 percent to 107,900 won, and its chipmaking ri