Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix shares tumbled in early trading in Seoul on Thursday, dragging down broader Asian equity indices.
The steep decline in the two memory chip giants extended a wave of selling pressure that has swept through the global semiconductor sector, following heavy losses in overnight US trading.
The selloff reflects ongoing investor caution regarding capital intensity and valuation multiples in the chip industry.
Despite strong demand for AI-related memory, markets remain sensitive to the massive capital expenditure plans announced by the sector's leaders.
The sharp move in Seoul underscores the volatility surrounding the memory cycle, where optimism about AI growth is frequently offset by concerns over return on investment.
This latest drop follows a period of heightened volatility for the stocks.