The benchmark KOSPI fell nearly 3% to around 6,440 on Monday, extending its decline to a more than one-month low as intensifying tensions in the Middle East and higher oil prices stoked inflation worries. Renewed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and the risk of deeper US involvement fueled concerns over a broader regional conflict and potential disruptions to energy supplies, with Brent crude holding above USD 104 per barrel.
At the same time, elevated US Treasury yields and rising expectations of further monetary tightening pressured equity markets. Technology shares led the downturn: SK hynix and Samsung Electronics dropped nearly 4% and more than 2%, respectively, as persistent foreign selling outweighed robust semiconductor earnings and record export growth.
Other notable decliners included SK Square (-3.9%), Doosan Enerbility (-5.1%), Hanwha Aerospace (-2.0%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-3.5%), LG Electronics (-5.0%), and LS Electric (-3.1%).
