Kospi plunges 8%, sell-side sidecar triggered as tech rout deepens; trading halted for 20 mins

South Korea’s Kospi index experienced a significant 8% drop, led by chip stocks. Investors questioned the sustainability of record earnings driven by artificial intelligence demand. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, major index components, saw substantial declines. Other sectors like battery and shipbuilding also faced considerable losses. Foreign investors continued to be net sellers of South…