StocksMediumUpdated•Originally published 15 October 2026•Updated 15 October 2026•
1 min read
South Korea's KOSPI Plunges 8% Triggering Circuit Breaker
Key Facts
1South Korea's KOSPI index hit a near 3-month low following a sharp 8% decline.
2A circuit breaker was triggered on the Korean exchange due to the rapid pace of the sell-off.
South Korea's KOSPI index plummeted 8% to reach its lowest level in nearly three months on October 15, 2026. According to reporting from investing.com, the Korea Exchange triggered a 20-minute circuit breaker to halt trading following the rapid pace of the market decline.
The sell-off was driven by the semiconductor sector, with Samsung Electronics shares falling 9.5% and SK hynix dropping 11.4% amid concerns over the sustainability of the AI boom. This volatility spilled over into Japanese markets, where the Nikkei 225 index declined 4.8% during the same session.