South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI fell 5% on Tuesday as a chip-led sell-off in artificial intelligence stocks deepened, cutting its 2026 gains to about 30% from roughly 116% at its record close in June. The index has dipped over 40% from its peak of 9,386 earlier this year.
Chip heavyweight SK Hynix Inc. headed for its lowest close since April. Data-center infrastructure company Elice Inc. plunged as much as 32% in its trading debut in Seoul. Both AI bellwethers SK Hynix and Samsung have plunged 35% and 22%, respectively.
