Seoul shares open sharply lower on tech slump amid Middle East uncertainty

SEOUL, June 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened sharply lower Friday as investors took a breather following a recent rally in tech shares amid uncertainty over the U.S.-Iran peace deal.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 316.21 points, or 3.66 percent, to 8,323.2 at the opening bell.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.73 percent, and the S&P 500 added 0.41 percent to 7,584.31. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite slipped 0.09 percent as Broadcom and other artificial intelligence-related stocks weighed on the index.

Oil prices retreated after three consecutive sessions of gains, as investor sentiment improved following reports that Israel had agreed to a conditional ceasefire with Lebanon.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index and foreign exchange rate are displayed on a screen at Hana Bank's dealing room in Seoul on June 5, 2026. (Yonhap)