Seoul shares opened higher Tuesday, led by gains in semiconductor stocks, amid revived hopes for artificial intelligence-related earnings momentum. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) extended gains after opening 0.72 percent higher, trading 54.51 points, or 0.78 percent, up at 7,049.90 as of 9:15 a.m. The index had soared by more than 4 percent in the previous session on the back of a rally in tech stocks. This comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East that pushed up oil prices.