(LEAD) Seoul shares open sharply lower on U.S. tech slide, Iran tensions

South Korean stocks opened significantly lower on Thursday, mirroring a downturn in U.S. technology shares. The decline was also influenced by ongoing geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran. Investors are reacting cautiously to the combined pressures of a weakening tech sector and international instability. The benchmark KOSPI index saw a notable drop in early trading as a result of these factors.

This indicates investor sentiment is being negatively impacted by global economic and geopolitical events, potentially affecting regional markets.