Key facts
- Seoul shares opened lower on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, following Wall Street's decline.
- The benchmark KOSPI was down 1.41 percent at 7,548.13.
- Tech stocks led the declines, with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix falling.
- The Korean won weakened against the U.S. dollar.
Seoul shares opened lower on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, mirroring overnight losses in U.S. markets as investors reassessed the trajectory of artificial intelligence trade. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) initially fell 2.7 percent but later pared losses to trade down 1.41 percent at 7,548.13 by 9:15 a.m.
Wall Street saw declines, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 0.25 percent and the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite dropping 1.16 percent. This sentiment carried over to Seoul, where local technology shares extended their downturns, significantly impacting the main index.
Investors are closely watching whether increased capital spending, heightened competition, and expanded production capacity within the tech sector will translate into earnings growth sufficient to support current high valuations. Major technology stocks experienced notable drops, including Samsung Electronics, which fell 1.69 percent, and chipmaker SK hynix, down 0.95 percent.
Other significant movers included Hyundai Motor, which declined 3.2 percent, and Hanwha Ocean, which plunged 5.46 percent. Conversely, home appliance manufacturer LG Electronics saw a rise of 1.06 percent, and LG Display climbed 5.33 percent.
The Korean won also weakened against the U.S. dollar, trading at 1,518.65 won, a decrease of 2.85 won from the previous session.