What caused the KOSPI index to drop below 4,000 points?

The KOSPI index fell below the 4,000-point level due to net selling by foreign and institutional investors, as well as the previous day's decline in the New York stock market.

How did the AI industry impact the KOSPI's performance?

Concerns about a potential bubble in the AI industry are amplifying uncertainties, as institutional investors are reportedly reducing their exposure to AI-related stocks, including NVIDIA.

Which major companies were affected by the KOSPI's decline?

Major market capitalization-weighted stocks, such as Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Hyundai Motor, Doosan Enerbility, Hanwha Aerospace, and KB Financial, all experienced declines on the day.

Home / Business and Economy / KOSPI Drops Below 4,000 as Foreign and Institutional Investors Sell

KOSPI Drops Below 4,000 as Foreign and Institutional Investors Sell

18 Nov

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Summary

KOSPI falls below 4,000-point level for first time in 7 trading days
Foreign and institutional investors lead the index's decline with net sales
Concerns about a bubble in the AI industry amplify uncertainties

KOSPI Drops Below 4,000 as Foreign and Institutional Investors Sell

On November 18, 2025, the South Korean stock market experienced a significant decline, with the KOSPI index falling below the 4,000-point level during trading. As of 12:07 p.m. on the same day, the KOSPI had dropped to 3,999.59, marking the first time it had closed below the 4,000-point level in seven trading days since November 7th.

The KOSPI opened the day at 4,044.47, down 1.1% from the previous trading session. While it briefly rose to 4,072.41 in the early part of the session, the index turned downward again as selling pressure intensified. The decline was primarily driven by foreign and institutional investors, who were net sellers of 115.7 billion Korean won and 507.3 billion Korean won, respectively. In contrast, individual investors were net buyers of 587.7 billion Korean won.