Seoul shares ended lower Wednesday as investors await US President Donald Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs set to be announced this week. The Korean won rose against the US dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 15.53 points, or 0.62 percent, to close at 2,505.86.
Trade volume was slim at 510.62 million shares worth 7.24 trillion won ($4.9 billion), with decliners outpacing gainers 593 to 275.
Foreigners sold a net 724.47 billion won worth of stocks, offsetting institutions' and individuals' stock purchases valued at 148.04 billion won and 478.18 billion won, respectively.
On top of 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, Trump is set to launch new reciprocal tariffs April 2, which will affect all US trading partners.
In Seoul, large-cap stocks were mixed.
Top carmaker Hyundai Motor fell 1.16 percent to 196,300 won, and leading steelmaker Posco Holdings declined 2.68 percent to 272,000 won.
Hyundai Steel dropped 2.03 percent to 24,100 won amid growing concerns about the impact of sweeping US tariffs on the steel industry.
LG Chem plunged 4.71 percent to 232,500 won, and leading refiner SK Innovation was down 3.54 percent to 106,200 won.
Among gainers, chip giant SK hynix rose 0.46 percent to 197,900 won, and shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean climbed 0.43 percent to 69,600 won.
The local currency was trading at 1,466.60 won against the greenback at 3:30 p.m., up 5.3 won from the previous session. (Yonhap)
