Seoul shares hit 6-wk closing high on techs

* Foreign investors buy for fourth session

* Woori Finance gains on merger expectations

* Telcos hit by price war worries

(Updates to close)

By Jungyoun Park

SEOUL, June 16 (Reuters) - Seoul shares climbed to a six-week closing high on Wednesday, fueled by steady foreign buying and firm gains in key blue chips such as Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) and Woori Finance Holdings (053000.KS).

Analyst said the main index could hit its earlier 2010 high 2010 high of 1757.76 points, reached on April 26th, within this month as appetite for risk revives, and ahead of the second quarter earnings season.

"We are seeing appetite for risk return to the market. Continued foreign buying and earnings expectations before second quarter results season are boosting sentiment," said Lee Sun-yeb, a market analyst at Shinhan Investment Corporation.

"The main index looks set to hit its earlier 2010 high within a couple of weeks," Lee said, adding that news of the National Pension Service's (NPS) plans to boost equity holdings further reinforced investor confidence.

The NPS plans to add more risky assets such as equity and real estate to its holdings as it seeks to diversify its investment portfolio.[ID:nTOE65F009]

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index .KS11 (KOSPI) finished up 0.91 percent at 1,705.33 points.

Foreign investors were buyers of a net 343 billion won ($279.1 million) worth of stocks, picking up shares for a fourth straight session.

Shares in Woori Finance Holdings rose 3.29 percent after KB Financial Group (105560.KS) nominated a new chairman who is expected to seek a merger with Woori.

"His reported comments definitely pointed to KB Financial pursuing Woori, and those expectations are sending Woori Finance shares higher," said Ku Yong-uk, a market analyst at Daewoo Securities.

"However there are still many unknown factors, such as what form the sale of Woori would take," Ku said, adding that he "did not see great synergy in the merger."

KB Financial Group retreated 2.83 percent.

Shares in NCSoft (036570.KS) jumped 7.18 percent amid positive expectations about its new game "Blade and Soul," currently in the trial stage and expected to come out later this year or early next year, analysts said.

Telecom issues declined after LG Telecom (032640.KS) unveiled aggressively priced wireless service plans on Tuesday.

Shares in SK Telecom (017670.KS) were down 0.9 percent and KT Corp (030200.KS) shed 2.63 percent.

Memory chip makers were helped by a 5.5 percent spike in the key U.S. semiconductor index .SOXX.

Shares in Samsung Electronics (005930.KS), the world's No.1 memory chip maker, rose 2.63 percent.

Shares in airlines and tour issues advanced as the summer holiday season approached, stoking positive earnings expectations.

Shares in Korean Air Line (003490.KS), South Korea's top air carrier, rose 2.58 percent and Hana Tour 039130.KQ, a major tour agency, climbed 1.26 percent.