* KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers
* Korean won strengthens against dollar
* South Korea benchmark bond yield steady
SEOUL, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares hit their highest in 20 months on Monday, buoyed by continued foreign inflows. The won strengthened, while the benchmark bond yield fell.
** The benchmark KOSPI was up 24.22 points, or 0.91%, at 2,672.98 as of 0138 GMT. Earlier in the session, the index rose as much as 1.31% to hit its highest level since May 31, 2022.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 292.9 billion won ($219.72 million) on the main board.
** It is their 18th session of buying, out of the last 20 sessions. In the other two, their sales were by just small margins.
** The rise came against Wall Street's losses on Friday, when U.S. producer inflation data came in higher than expected.
** South Korea will soon announce a programme to boost the value of Seoul-listed companies, which includes tax incentives, to encourage higher shareholder returns, the finance minister said on Friday.
** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics rose 1.24% and peer SK Hynix gained 3.54%, but battery maker LG Energy Solution slid 2.44%.
** The Korea Exchange Bank Index rose more than 1%. Financial stocks have recently seen huge inflows of foreign money, as lead gainers benefiting from the government's push to boost undervalued stocks.
** Of the total 933 traded issues, 596 shares advanced, while 277 declined.
** The won was quoted at 1,332.3 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.23% higher than its previous close at 1,335.4.
** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year treasury bonds was unchanged at 104.46.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield rose by 0.9 basis point to 3.414%, while the benchmark 10-year yield fell by 0.2 basis point to 3.480%. ($1 = 1,333.0400 won) (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Rashmi Aich)