* 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)