Tech rout triggers trading halt for KOSPI stocks for 20 minutes

Published Oct 15, 2026 1:11 pm KST

The benchmark KOSPI and KOSDAQ indices are displayed at Hana Bank's dealing room in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

Korea's bourse operator on Thursday activated a circuit breaker for the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) on an extended sell-off in tech shares.

Trading of KOSPI-listed shares was halted for 20 minutes from 12:38 p.m., as the index plunged more than 8 percent from the previous session's close.

The benchmark index came under heavy selling pressure as investors sold off semiconductor shares on skepticism about the sustainability of artificial intelligence (AI) trade and hotter-than-expected inflation data in the United States.

It marked the ninth time this year that the KRX has activated a circuit breaker.

发布于2026年10月15日下午1:11（韩国标准时间）

周四，韩国韩亚银行首尔交易大厅展示了韩国综合股价指数（KOSPI）和韩国创业板指数（KOSDAQ）。（韩联社）

周四，由于科技股持续抛售，韩国证券交易所运营商对基准韩国综合股价指数（KOSPI）启动了熔断机制。

由于韩国综合股价指数（KOSPI）较前一交易日收盘价暴跌超过 8%，该指数于下午 12:38 暂停交易 20 分钟。

由于投资者对人工智能 (AI) 交易的可持续性持怀疑态度，以及美国通胀数据高于预期，导致半导体股票被抛售，基准指数面临巨大的抛售压力。

这是韩国交易所今年第九次启动熔断机制。