South Korean Stocks Slip on Diplomatic Uncertainty

2026-03-26 01:31 By Mariene Camarillo 1 min. read

The benchmark KOSPI fell 3.22% to close at 5,460 on Thursday, pulling back gains from the previous sessions to reach a two-week low, as investors adopted a cautious stance amid mixed geopolitical signals.

Although optimism briefly emerged after signals from the White House that talks with Tehran are progressing, uncertainty remains elevated.

Conflicting statements from Iran, including its foreign minister’s dismissal of formal negotiations, have dampened risk appetite, leaving investors weighing prospects for de-escalation.

The conflict, which began on 28 February 2026, has now been underway for about four weeks.

Local equities showed broad-based weakness, particularly among heavyweight technology names.

Samsung Electronics (-2.83%) and SK hynix (-3.82%) dragged on the index, while SK Square (-5.21%), Hyundai Motor (-1.40%), and LG Energy Solution (-1.40%) also posted notable losses.



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