Why did Seoul shares give up part of their early Monday gains?

Foreign investors kept selling big-cap tech shares, offsetting bargain hunting by retail and institutional investors. Their net selling reached nearly 619.7 billion won, which outweighed combined buying of 598.2 billion won.

What were Samsung Electronics and SK hynix doing in Monday morning trading in Seoul?

Samsung Electronics slipped 0.11 percent after opening higher, while SK hynix rose 0.84 percent. The article says Korean technology stocks remained the market's main support.

How was the Korean won trading against the U.S. dollar late Monday morning?

The won stood at 1,414.8 per dollar at 11:20 a.m., down 5.3 won from the previous session's close. The article links the currency move to the same foreign selling pressure weighing on shares.

Seoul shares pare gains late Monday morning on foreign selling

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Summary

Seoul shares pared earlier gains late Monday morning as foreign investors kept selling big-cap tech stocks despite buying by retail and institutional investors. The benchmark KOSPI rose 0.4 percent to 6,283.92 at 11:20 a.m. Samsung Electronics edged down 0.11 percent, while SK hynix gained 0.84 percent. The Korean won weakened to 1,414.8 won against the U.S. dollar.

Key Facts

Foreign investors sold nearly 619.7 billion won worth of shares, while retail and institutional investors bought a combined 598.2 billion won.
The KOSPI added 25.15 points, or 0.4 percent, to 6,283.92 at 11:20 a.m. after opening 0.76 percent higher.
The benchmark index had ended lower for a second straight session Friday, with foreign selling cited as the main drag.
On Friday local time, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.28 percent, the S&P 500 gained 0.62 percent to a fresh record, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.3 percent.
The Korean won was trading at 1,414.8 won against the U.S. dollar, down 5.3 won from the previous session's close.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 10, 2026 9:24 am KST
Updated Aug 10, 2026 12:05 pm KST

An electronic board at Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul shows the benchmark KOSPI and Kosdaq indices, Monday. Yonhap

Korean shares pared earlier gains late Monday morning as foreign investors continued to sell big-cap tech shares despite bargain hunting by retail and institutional investors.

After opening 0.76 percent higher, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 25.15 points, or 0.4 percent, at 6,283.92 as of as of 11:20 a.m.

Foreign investors sold nearly 619.7 billion won ($437.8 million), offsetting a combined 598.2 billion won worth of buying by retail and institutional investors.

The KOSPI ended lower for a second straight session Friday, weighed down by foreign selling.

On Friday (local time), Wall Street advanced, following U.S. job reports. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.28 percent, while the S&P 500 added 0.62 percent to a fresh record. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index increased 1.3 percent.

Korean technology stocks remained the bulwark of the market.

After opening higher, market bellwether Samsung Electronics inched down 0.11 percent, while its chipmaking rival SK hynix climbed 0.84 percent.

The Korean won was trading at 1,414.8 won against the U.S. dollar as of 11:20 a.m., down 5.3 won from the previous session's close.

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