KOSPI gains pared by foreign selling despite retail bargain hunting
Synopsis
South Korea's KOSPI trimmed a promising open as foreign investors dumped over ₩619 billion in tech shares — more than erasing domestic buying. With Samsung swinging from gains to losses and President Lee Jae Myung convening an emergency semiconductor-and-AI investment meeting the same morning, Monday's session captured the central tension in Korea's market: strong domestic ambition, fragile foreign confidence.
Key Takeaways
KOSPI was up 0.4 per cent at 6,283.92 as of 11:20 am on 10 August , well below its opening gain of 0.76 per cent .
Foreign investors sold 619.7 billion won (approx.
US$437.8 million ), outpacing 598.2 billion won in combined retail and institutional buying.
Samsung Electronics slipped 0.11 per cent by mid-morning after rising 2.49 per cent at the open; SK hynix held gains of 0.84 per cent .
The Korean won weakened to 1,414.8 won per US dollar, down 5.3 won from the previous close.
President Lee Jae Myung chaired a meeting to fast-track investment in semiconductor facilities and AI data centres , including plans to secure electricity and water supply for a production cluster.
South Korea's benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) trimmed its early advance on Monday, 10 August, as foreign investors continued to offload large-cap technology shares, countering a wave of bargain buying by retail and institutional players. The index was up 25.15 points, or 0.4 per cent, at 6,283.92 as of 11:20 am local time, after opening 0.76 per cent higher.
Foreign Selling Offsets Domestic Demand
Foreign investors sold approximately 619.7 billion won (around US$437.8 million) worth of shares, more than wiping out a combined 598.2 billion won in net purchases by retail and institutional investors. The pattern echoes the previous session: the KOSPI had ended lower for a second straight session on Friday, also dragged by sustained foreign outflows from the technology segment.
Tech Stocks: A Mixed Picture
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics posted divergent moves across the session — rising 2.49 per cent at the open before slipping 0.11 per cent by mid-morning, reflecting the tug-of-war between domestic buyers and foreign sellers. Chipmaking rival SK hynix fared better, climbing 3.94 per cent early and holding gains of 0.84 per cent by mid-session. Technology stocks remained the primary battleground for investor flows.
Wall Street Tailwind, Won Under Pressure
Positive cues from Wall Street on Friday provided some overnight support. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.28 per cent, the S&P 500 added 0.62 per cent to a fresh record, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index gained 1.3 per cent, all lifted by encouraging US jobs data. Despite that backdrop, the Korean won weakened, trading at 1,414.8 won per US dollar as of 11:20 am — down 5.3 won from the previous session's close.
Government Eyes Semiconductor and AI Investment Push
Away from the trading floor, President Lee Jae Myung was set to chair a high-level meeting on Monday to accelerate a large-scale investment initiative covering semiconductor manufacturing facilities and artificial intelligence (AI) data centres, according to the presidential office. The meeting was expected to focus on the prompt implementation of existing investment plans, strategies to distribute economic benefits across regions, and concrete measures to secure the electricity and water supplies required to build a dedicated semiconductor production cluster. Officials were also expected to brief stakeholders on progress made to date.
What to Watch
The sustainability of Monday's partial recovery will depend on whether foreign selling pressure eases as the week progresses. With the Korean government signalling a major push in semiconductors and AI infrastructure, any policy clarity from Monday's presidential meeting could provide a fresh sentiment boost to tech-sector stocks in subsequent sessions.
Point of View
Not add to it. Samsung's intra-session reversal — from a 2.49 per cent gain to a 0.11 per cent loss — is the clearest signal that overseas sentiment on the sector remains cautious. President Lee's semiconductor investment meeting is a policy response to exactly this dynamic, but government-backed capex plans take quarters to translate into earnings; they rarely move markets on announcement day alone. The real test will be whether the foreign selling abates once the investment roadmap gains credibility.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the KOSPI trim its gains on 10 August?
The KOSPI pared its early advance because foreign investors sold approximately 619.7 billion won worth of large-cap technology shares, more than offsetting 598.2 billion won in combined buying by retail and institutional investors. The index was still up 0.4 per cent at 6,283.92 as of 11:20 am, but well below its opening gain of 0.76 per cent.
How did Samsung Electronics and SK hynix perform?
Samsung Electronics opened 2.49 per cent higher but had slipped to a 0.11 per cent loss by mid-morning, reflecting heavy foreign selling. SK hynix was more resilient, opening up 3.94 per cent and holding gains of 0.84 per cent by 11:20 am.
What is President Lee Jae Myung's semiconductor investment meeting about?
President Lee Jae Myung convened a meeting on Monday to accelerate a large-scale government-backed investment initiative in semiconductor manufacturing facilities and AI data centres. The agenda included measures to secure electricity and water supplies for a dedicated semiconductor production cluster and strategies to spread investment benefits across regions and the broader industrial ecosystem.
How is the Korean won performing?
The Korean won was trading at 1,414.8 won per US dollar as of 11:20 am on Monday, down 5.3 won from the previous session's close, signalling mild currency pressure alongside the equity market volatility.
What impact did US jobs data have on South Korean markets?
Positive US jobs data lifted Wall Street on Friday — the Dow rose 0.28 per cent, the S&P 500 gained 0.62 per cent to a fresh record, and the Nasdaq added 1.3 per cent — providing an overnight tailwind for the KOSPI's higher open. However, the boost was insufficient to overcome sustained foreign selling of Korean tech stocks during Monday's session.
