Seoul stocks fall 3.65% as chip shares are sold
South Korea's KOSPI posted its fourth straight loss, led by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.
Asia Markets · Monday, October 12, 2026 · 6:15 AM ET
South Korea's KOSPI index fell 3.65% on Monday to 6,384.24, its fourth straight losing session, as technology stocks were sold hard (Yonhap, The Korea Times, Chosunbiz).
What happened
The KOSPI lost 241.69 points. Samsung Electronics fell 4.39% and SK hynix fell 4.52%, The Korea Times reported, even after Samsung posted record earnings last week. The Korea Times says the index has lost 8.85% since October 6, and that the tech-heavy Kosdaq fell 4.83% to 849.19. Chosunbiz reports that foreign investors sold more than 2.5 trillion won (roughly $1.9 billion) of Korean shares.
Why, according to the reports
Yonhap pointed to a tech sell-off driven by inflation worries and elevated oil prices. The Korea Times says investors want stronger proof that the chip boom and Korean makers' high-bandwidth-memory products can last, and that earnings from ASML, TSMC, SK hynix and Samsung could help a rebound. Chosunbiz tied the drop to debate over an AI bubble and OpenAI. For background on the report behind that debate, see our story on the FT report about OpenAI revenue. Newsquawk also noted North Korea's latest missile launch, which led Seoul to hold an emergency meeting.
ASML reports Wednesday and TSMC Thursday; see our week-ahead story. SK hynix reports October 27 and Samsung holds its earnings call October 29, per The Korea Times.