The Seoul bourse was heavily volatile, with the KOSPI swinging between 6,180 and 6,040.60 amid a tug-of-war between retail buying and foreign selling. As of 11:10 a.m., the benchmark index was down 2.89 percent at 6,063.39.
On the secondary bourse, the tone diverged. Foreign and institutional investors kept buying while retailers took profits, helping the KOSDAQ edge up 0.31 percent to 1,195.15.
Heavyweight chipmakers retreated but remained above the psychological milestones they broke last week.
Samsung Electronics fell 2.31 percent to 211,500 won, while SK hynix declined 2.26 percent to 1,037,000 won.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 slid 1.27 percent to 57,320.94 in morning trade. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index managed a modest 0.45 percent gain, though broader sentiment remained fragile.
While losers overwhelmed gainers on the KOSPI by 749 to 160, defense stocks stood out as clear beneficiaries of heightened geopolitical risk.
Hanwha Systems surged 23.68 percent to 140,200 won, and Hanwha Aerospace jumped 13 percent to 1,353,000 won.
LIG Nex1 soared 28.59 percent, while Hyundai Rotem gained 9.11 percent and Poongsan advanced 10.09 percent, reflecting expectations of widening battles and an accelerating arms race.
The Korean won weakened sharply to 1,465.30 per dollar, around 2 percent off from Friday’s close of 1,438.4, highlighting capital outflow pressures.
Safe-haven demand lifted gold 1.40 percent to $5,385.91. Bitcoin initially tumbled after the announcement but later rebounded 3.59 percent to $68,934, underscoring volatile risk sentiment.
Battery makers came under pressure, with LG Energy Solution down 2.93 percent and Samsung SDI slipping 2.90 percent.
Automakers were among the sharpest decliners. Hyundai Motor Company fell 3.71 percent to 649,000 won, while Kia Corporation dropped 5.55 percent to 194,100 won.
Financials were mostly lower. KB Financial Group fell 1.95 percent, Shinhan Financial Group edged down 0.10 percent, and Mirae Asset Securities declined 1.94 percent.
Industrial and shipbuilding shares were mixed. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries gained 1.66 percent and Hanwha Ocean rose 3.47 percent, while Doosan Enerbility slipped 1.41 percent.
Biopharma heavyweights also retreated, with Samsung Biologics down 2.81 percent and Celltrion losing 1.47 percent.
Steelmaker POSCO Holdings dropped 3.27 percent.
Entertainment stocks were weaker, with HYBE down 3.61 percent, JYP Entertainment falling 1.72 percent and YG Entertainment declining 3.65 percent.
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