Korea Stock Market (KRX) Today: South Korea’s stock market came under intense selling pressure on Wednesday, August 19, as a sharp sell-off in technology and semiconductor stocks dragged the benchmark KOSPI down more than 5%. The index fell to an intraday low of 6,400.81 before closing at 6,509.24, down 5.25% in a single trading session.
Major chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix led the losses, falling 7.26% and 8.60%, respectively, as investors booked profits and reduced exposure to high-valued AI and semiconductor stocks. The decline also triggered the Korea Exchange’s sidecar trading halt, highlighting the intensity of the market volatility.
Korea Stock Market (KRX) Today (August 19): Why is the Korean Stock Market Down Today?
The Korean stock market fell sharply as investors moved away from technology and semiconductor stocks following overnight weakness on Wall Street. Concerns over elevated valuations in AI-related companies added to the selling pressure.
Rising global bond yields also weighed on equities, while higher oil prices and continuing geopolitical tensions added to concerns about inflation and economic growth.
The KOSPI’s heavy exposure to semiconductor giants made the South Korean benchmark particularly vulnerable to the global technology sell-off.
Korea Stock Market (KRX) Today (August 19): KOSPI Down By 5.25%
The KOSPI closed at 6,509.24, down 360.59 points, or 5.25%, from its previous close of 6,869.83. The index opened at 6,528.77 and initially reached a high of 6,614.39. Selling accelerated during the session, pushing the KOSPI to an intraday low of 6,400.81.
KOSPI Performance
- Final Close: 6,509.24
- Change: -5.25%
- Opening: 6,528.77
- Intraday High: 6,614.39
- Intraday Low: 6,400.81
- Previous Close: 6,869.83
Korea Stock Market (KRX) Today (August 19): KOSDAQ Down By 0.40%
The KOSDAQ performed better than the KOSPI, although it also started the session under pressure.
The index opened at 810.08, down 2.89%, following the technology sell-off in global markets. However, domestic institutional and foreign buying helped the index recover most of its early losses. The KOSDAQ eventually closed at 830.89, down 3.31 points or 0.40%.
KOSDAQ Performance
- Final Close: 830.89
- Change: -0.40%
- Opening: 810.08
- Intraday High: 840.50
- Intraday Low: 804.02
- Previous Close: 834.20
Korea Stock Market (KRX) Today (August 19): Samsung Electronics Falls 7.26%
Samsung Electronics was among the biggest contributors to the KOSPI decline. The stock closed at 249,000 KRW, down 7.26% from its previous close of 268,500 KRW. Samsung opened at 251,500 KRW and touched an intraday low of 247,000 KRW before recovering slightly toward the close.
Samsung Electronics PerformanceÂ
- Final Close: 249,000 KRW
- Change: -7.26%
- Opening: 251,500 KRW
- Intraday High: 254,500 KRW
- Intraday Low: 247,000 KRW
- Previous Close: 268,500 KRW
- Volume: 18.04 million shares
Korea Stock Market (KRX) Today (August 19): SK Hynix Down By 8.60%
SK Hynix suffered an even sharper decline, falling 8.60% to close at 1,519,000 KRW. The stock started from a previous close of 1,662,000 KRW and fell as low as 1,510,000 KRW during the session.
The sharp decline came as investors reduced exposure to semiconductor stocks amid renewed concerns over AI-related valuations and profit-taking in the global chip sector.
SK Hynix Performance
- Final Close: 1,519,000 KRW
- Change: -8.60%
- Intraday Low: 1,510,000 KRW
- Previous Close: 1,662,000 KRW
Korea Stock Market (KRX) Today (August 19) Performance
The major Korean benchmarks ended the session as follows:
| Index/Stock | August 19 Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| KOSPI | 6,509.24 | -5.25% |
| KOSDAQ | 830.89 | -0.40% |
| Samsung Electronics | 249,000 KRW | -7.26% |
| SK Hynix | 1,519,000 KRW | -8.60% |
The contrast between the KOSPI and KOSDAQ showed how heavily the day’s selling concentrated in large-cap technology and semiconductor stocks.
Korea Stock Market (KRX) Today (August 19): Top Gainers
Despite the broad market sell-off, some stocks managed to outperform as investors rotated into selected sectors. Top gainers to watch:
- Hanwha Aerospace – +2.71%
- LG Energy Solution – +1.57%
- Samsung Biologics – +0.85%
- SK Square – +0.64%
- Samsung C&T – +0.38%
Korea Stock Market (KRX) Today (August 19): Top Losers
Technology and semiconductor stocks dominated the list of major decliners. Top losers included:
- SK Hynix: -8.60%
- Samsung Electronics: -7.26%
- Major semiconductor and AI-related stocks
- Other large-cap technology shares exposed to global risk-off sentiment
The losses in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix had an outsized impact on the KOSPI because of their significant market weightings.
Korea Stock Market (KRX) Today (August 19): What Should Investors Know?
The August 19 sell-off shows the Korean market’s sensitivity to movements in global technology stocks, bond yields and semiconductor valuations.
Investors will now monitor Wall Street technology shares, US Treasury yields, oil prices and developments in the global semiconductor industry for signs of whether the pressure on Korean stocks will continue.
The performance of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix will remain particularly important for the KOSPI, given their influence on the benchmark.
