News / Korea / yonhap_finance
KOSPI Slides Over 2% at Open Following US Semiconductor Sell-off
Electronic Technology · Semiconductors · yonhap_finance · 2026-08-25
South Korean markets opened sharply lower as a decline in US semiconductor stocks weighed heavily on investor sentiment across the KOSPI and KOSDAQ.
What Happened
Market Overview: The KOSPI index opened more than 2% lower on the 25th, pressured by a broad sell-off in semiconductor stocks on Wall Street. The negative sentiment from the US tech sector has triggered a cautious atmosphere in the Korean market.
Index Performance: As of 9:01 AM, the KOSPI stood at 6,537.71, down 2.38% from the previous close. The index began the session at 6,535.93, marking a 2.40% decline, and has continued to struggle throughout the early morning trading hours.
KOSDAQ Movement: The KOSDAQ index also faced downward pressure, falling 1.35% to 802.31 at the same time. The decline reflects a broader trend of risk aversion affecting both major domestic indices due to the semiconductor slump.
Underlying Factors: The market downturn is primarily attributed to the weakness in US semiconductor equities, which has acted as a significant headwind for global markets. Investors are closely monitoring the situation as external volatility continues to dictate the short-term direction of Korean stocks.