Trading on the Seoul Stock Exchange was suspended after the benchmark KOSPI index fell approximately 8 percent, triggering a circuit breaker.
The halt was implemented to stabilize markets following a rapid and severe decline in equity values.
The selloff was concentrated in technology shares, which drove the broader index lower.
Heavy selling pressure in the sector overwhelmed buying interest, leading to the extreme price movement that activated the exchange’s volatility controls.
This development marks a significant escalation in market stress for South Korean equities.
The intervention by the exchange operator underscores the severity of the downturn, as the circuit breaker mechanism is designed to prevent panic-driven trading during periods of extreme volatility.