US EditionSouth Korea’s stock market suffer steepest drop in history amid US-Iran war
The Kospi dropped over 12%, led by major tech and auto firms, amid fears of prolonged energy shocks and foreign investor sell-offs, marking the worst day in decades.
- On March 04, 2026, South Korea's Kospi index plunged more than 12, putting the market on track for its worst trading day in decades, amid fears of an escalating Middle East war.
- With the Middle East war escalating, US and Israeli forces strikes against Iran destabilised the region, raising fears of an energy shock as Brent crude traded close to $82 a barrel.
- Foreign selling and forced liquidations accelerated the downturn as Samsung Electronics fell about seven percent and SK Hynix dropped about five percent, deepening losses in the Kospi.
- Trading was temporarily halted as circuit breakers triggered on the Korea Exchange, with the won briefly hitting 1,500 before closing at 1,485.7, and the Bank of Korea vowed to respond to herd-like behaviour.
- Markets are now trading headline to headline as uncertainty mounts, with surging energy costs threatening US Federal Reserve easing and Asian equities falling for a third day amid geopolitical risks.
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63 Articles
South Korean investors panic as world-beating stock gains vanish | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
SEONGNAM, South Korea >> As South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI stock index dived more than 12% to its worst-ever sell-off today, a district known as the Korean Silicon Valley was eerily quiet when it would normally be bustling for the lunchtime rush.
South Korean stock market plunges over potential Iran-related energy crisis
In a shock for South Korea, the country's KOSPI index dropped by over 12 percent Wednesday in its worst sell off ever. Share prices took a dive as investors panicked about a potential energy crisis if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked. South Korea, alongside many Asian countries, is especially dependent on Middle Eastern oil, making its businesses vulnerable to the geopolitics of the region.
South Korea's KOSPI Just Had its Worst Crash Ever - Is the S&P 500 In Trouble?
Quick Read South Korean markets plunged overnight. The main South Korean ETF (EWY) fell 8.45% this week to $132.34 but is up 149.17% over the year. S&P 500 ETF (SPY) is down 0.23% YTD at $680.33. Nasdaq 100 ETF (QQQ) is down 2.07% YTD. South Korea’s KOSPI crashed 12% on Iran conflict fears and valuation reset after more than doubling to 6,000, but US markets are shrugging it off as capital rotates to US assets during international stress. Fin…
Asian stock markets fell for a third day on Wednesday, while oil prices continued to rise on concerns that the ongoing Middle East conflict will cause an energy shock and inflation. South Korean stocks fell more than 12 percent on Wednesday, the biggest drop in the 46-year history of their main index.
The Asian stock exchanges collapse while the fear of the consequences of the conflict in the Middle East continues to spread among the shareholders. For the third day in a row the stock indices have fallen strongly, with the "Msci Asia Pacific," the stock index that monitors the fluctuations of the countries of the Asia-Pacific area, which drops by 4.5%. Seul collapses, recording a -12%. Tokyo loses 3.6%. Also bad Hong Kong (-2.6%), Shanghai (-1…
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