Why did Seoul stocks open lower despite gains on Wall Street?

The market moved lower even after U.S. shares rose because the article says those gains were capped by rising crude oil prices. In Seoul, chip and electronics names were mostly mixed to weaker in early trading.

How did the KOSPI and major Korean stocks move in early Friday trading?

The KOSPI opened 0.47 percent lower and stood at 6,961.18 at 9:15 a.m. Samsung Electronics lost 0.22 percent, SK Square fell 0.61 percent, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics slipped 0.7 percent, while SK hynix rose 0.22 percent.

What was the Korean won trading at against the U.S. dollar?

The won was trading at 1,362.6 won per dollar, down 4.2 won from the close of the previous stock trading session. The currency move came alongside a weaker start for the Seoul market.

Seoul stocks open lower despite US gains

Listen

Summary

Korean stocks opened mildly lower Friday in Seoul despite overnight gains on Wall Street. The benchmark KOSPI fell 10.17 points, or 0.15 percent, to 6,961.18 as of 9:15 a.m. Samsung Electronics and SK Square fell, while SK hynix edged up. The Korean won traded at 1,362.6 won against the U.S. dollar, down 4.2 won from the previous session.

Key Facts

The KOSPI opened 0.47 percent lower before trimming losses to 6,961.18 at 9:15 a.m.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.04 percent, the S&P 500 gained 0.19 percent, and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.04 percent overnight.
Samsung Electronics fell 0.22 percent, while SK hynix inched up 0.22 percent in early Seoul trading.
SK Square dropped 0.61 percent and Samsung Electro-Mechanics shed 0.7 percent.
The Korean won was trading at 1,362.6 won against the U.S. dollar, down 4.2 won from the previous stock trading session.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 2, 2026 9:28 am KST

The benchmark KOSPI is displayed at a dealing room of Hana Bank in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap

Korean stocks opened mildly lower Friday, despite overnight gains on Wall Street.

After opening 0.47 percent lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 10.17 points, or 0.15 percent, to 6,961.18 as of 9:15 a.m.

Overnight, U.S. stocks finished modestly higher as benchmark Treasury yields eased from fresh multi-decade highs, although gains were capped by rising crude oil prices.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.04 percent, while the benchmark S&P 500 gained 0.19 percent. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index added 0.04 percent.

In Seoul, market heavyweights were mostly lower.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 0.22 percent, while chip giant SK hynix inched up 0.22 percent.

SK Square, the parent company of SK hynix, went down 0.61 percent, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics, an electronics component affiliate of Samsung Electronics, shed 0.7 percent.

The Korean won was trading at 1,362.6 won against the U.S. dollar, down 4.2 won from the close of the previous stock trading session.

Explore More