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South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI index briefly triggered a trading curb on Monday after tumbling more than 5%, as heavy selling in major technology and semiconductor stocks rattled Asian markets. The sharp decline reflected growing investor concerns over AI-related valuations, chip earnings, and whether massive spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure will deliver sustainable returns.
The KOSPI fell as much as 5.2% during trading, prompting a temporary market halt designed to curb excessive volatility. The selloff was led by the country’s largest technology companies, with SK Hynix plunging nearly 10% to 1,964,000 won. Samsung Electronics dropped more than 6% after its recent earnings report disappointed investors, reinforcing doubts about whether memory chip profits can keep pace with the industry’s aggressive AI investment cycle. LG Innotek also declined more than 8%, adding to pressure on the broader technology sector.
The weakness quickly spread across Asia’s semiconductor supply chain. In Japan, Kioxia Holdings fell nearly 9%, while Murata Manufacturing lost almost 6% and TDK Corp slipped around 5%. In contrast, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and Foxconn Technology remained relatively stable, trading little changed despite the broader market turmoil.
The latest decline extends a period of heightened volatility for Asian semiconductor and AI-related stocks following Samsung Electronics’ preliminary earnings announcement. Investors have become increasingly cautious after months of strong gains, questioning whether the billions of dollars being invested by major cloud providers and technology companies into AI infrastructure will ultimately translate into stronger earnings and long-term profitability.
The market reaction highlights growing concerns that AI-driven optimism may have outpaced near-term financial performance, particularly for semiconductor companies facing rising capital expenditures. As investors reassess earnings expectations and valuation levels, technology stocks across Asia could remain under pressure, with semiconductor shares likely to stay at the center of market attention in the coming weeks.
