The KOSPI fell 201.89 points, or 3.52%, to close at 5,533.77 after reaching an intraday low of 5,485.98. Individuals bought 381 billion won and foreign investors bought 59 billion won, while institutions sold 463 billion won; the KOSDAQ also declined 3.62% to 764.10. Samsung Electronics dropped 4.03% and SK hynix fell 5.49%, while medical and precision instruments, chemicals, and electrical and electronic shares recorded broad losses.
Jeonnam Ilbo attributed the pressure to profit-taking after the previous session's rise, the end of share buyback programs, concerns over the returns from AI infrastructure spending, and heightened Middle East tensions.