South Korea's Kospi index tumbled as much as 9% on Wednesday, triggering a second trading suspension this week as a renewed sell-off in technology stocks jolted Asian equity markets.
The sharp decline underscores the fragility of the region's tech-heavy valuations following a period of aggressive profit-taking that had already pushed the index down from record levels earlier in the week.
The volatility in Seoul is part of a broader regional reset, with Asian markets struggling to find direction as aftershocks from a Wall Street sell-off ripple across the Pacific.
Investor skepticism has intensified, driven by concerns over the sustainability of recent tech rallies and a shift in risk appetite that is punishing high-beta sectors first.
The trading halt mechanism was activated to curb panic selling, but the underlying pressure on semiconductor and hardware names remains acute.
This development marks a significant escalation from Tuesday's reversal, where the Kospi had already staged a sharp pullback.