Kospi slides 8% on US chip sell-off

The South Korean benchmark Kospi plunged more than 8 percent Monday, mirroring a rout in US semiconductor stocks on Wall Street, which triggered a circuit breaker. The Kospi opened 1.38 percent lower at 8,048.09. Soon after the opening bell, selling accelerated, pushing the index below the 8,000 mark. It stood at 7,477.46, down 8.37 percent, as of 9:12 a.m. A circuit breaker was triggered, halting program trading for 20 minutes after the benchmark index plunged more than 8 percent. Foreign inves

2026-06-08 09:13:30:00

[Photo News] Korea marks Memorial Day

Various events were held across South Korea on Saturday to commemorate Memorial Day, a national holiday paying respect to those who sacrificed themselves while serving the country. A children's drawing contest was held at the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan-gu, central Seoul. Visitors also enjoyed a variety of hands-on activities, including making rose-of-Sharon-shaped soap and traditional weapons, as well as trying on police uniforms. A motorcycle parade by the Capital Defense Command was also

2026-06-06 16:17:36:00

IU targeted in online trolling over election disruption

Singer and actress IU has been targeted by online comments urging her to support protesters over election disruptions, in what some describe as coordinated online trolling. Her social media account has recently been flooded with comments requesting that she prepay coffee and snacks for demonstrators who have gathered to protest against ballot paper shortage incident during the June 3 local elections. Some users cited IU’s previous actions, when she provided prepaid food and drinks for attendees

2026-06-06 16:15:28:00

Protest over ballot shortage continues after voting disruptions

A protest over voting disruptions caused by a ballot paper shortage during the June 3 local elections continued into Saturday. Protesters remained gathered outside the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, eastern Seoul, on Saturday afternoon. The venue was being used as a vote-counting center. Protesters blocked entrances, trapping an estimated 20-30 officials inside. Roughly 3,000 demonstrators were present as of 1:30 p.m., according to an unofficial police estimate. The

2026-06-06 14:54:13:00

Two swept away by waves at beach in Gangneung

Two women were swept away by waves at a beach in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, on Saturday, leaving one dead and the other hospitalized. The Gangneung Coast Guard Station said it received a report of two people struggling in the water at 5:09 a.m. A coastal patrol team pulled both women from the water using rescue ropes. One of the victims, a woman in her 30s, was found unconscious and in cardiac arrest and was later pronounced dead. The other woman, in her 20s, is receiving treatment at a hospit

2026-06-06 12:19:05:00

Korean won breaches 1,560 per dollar for first time since 2009

The Korean won weakened past the 1,560-per-dollar mark during overnight trading on Saturday for the first time in more than 17 years, sinking to its weakest level since the global financial crisis in 2009. The won was quoted at 1,559 per dollar at the close of overnight trading at 2 a.m. Saturday, weakening 19.9 won from the close of daytime trading. During the session, it weakened to as weak as 1,561.5 per dollar, marking its weakest level since March 6, 2009, when it traded at 1,597 won amid t

2026-06-06 11:03:07:00

Foreign selling drags Kospi down 5%, sends won to 17-year low

Heavy foreign selling rattled South Korean markets on Friday, dragging the benchmark Kospi down more than 5 percent and driving the won to a 17-year low against the greenback. The Kospi closed down 5.54 percent at 8,160.59 on the day. The benchmark index opened sharply lower, tracking an overnight decline in US semiconductor stocks after Broadcom projected third-quarter AI-related revenue of $16 billion, falling short of market expectations. It fell as much as 6 percent in early trading to 8,038

2026-06-05 17:29:38:00

Mirae Asset's SpaceX offering sells out in minutes

Mirae Asset Securities' first round of subscription for SpaceX shares sold out minutes after opening Friday, reflecting strong domestic demand for the highly anticipated listing. Mirae Asset is offering $500 million worth of SpaceX shares to registered professional investors, including individuals and corporations. Individual professional investors are those considered capable of assuming investment risks, taking into account their knowledge and experience in financial instruments and the scale

2026-06-05 15:22:37:00

Korean won hits 17-year low on foreign outflow

The Korean won weakened sharply Friday, hitting its lowest level since the 2009 global financial crisis as sustained foreign outflows from the benchmark Kospi weighed on the currency. The won was quoted at 1,529 per dollar at the start of onshore trading Friday. It soon weakened past the 1,540 mark after the opening bell, weakening to as low as 1,549.1 per dollar and briefly flirting with the 1,550 threshold. The currency was trading at 1,544.7 per dollar as of noon. It marked the first time the

2026-06-05 13:38:51:00

Kospi plunges 5% on US chip stock rout

South Korea's benchmark Kospi tumbled more than 5 percent in early trading Friday, tracking a sharp selloff in semiconductor stocks on Wall Street after Broadcom's earnings and outlook disappointed investors. The Kospi opened at 8,323.2, down 3.66 percent from the previous session. Losses deepened shortly after the opening bell, with the index falling to 8,190.25 as of 9:15 a.m., down 5.2 percent on-session. The decline pushed the benchmark below the 8,100 mark during trading. A sell-side sideca

2026-06-05 09:34:29:00