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SEOUL, May 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks traded 1.6 percent lower late Friday morning as investors locked in profits amid resurfaced military tensions in the Middle East.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 120.01 points, or 1.6 percent, to 7,370.04 as of 11:20 a.m.
Traders hunted for profits after the KOSPI had risen for three straight sessions through Thursday to breach the uncharted 7,400-point mark.
Overnight, U.S. and Iranian forces exchanged fire, clouding the outlook for a deal to end the 10-week war.
In Seoul, market heavyweights led the decline.
Tech giant Samsung Electronics lost 3.13 percent, and its chipmaking rival SK hynix dropped 1.87 percent.
Leading steelmaker POSCO Holdings retreated 3.36 percent, and major game publisher Netmarble tumbled 9.13 percent.
However, top carmaker Hyundai Motor surged 12.24 percent, and Samyang Foods, known for its smash-hit Buldak series ramyeon, jumped 5.38 percent.
The Korean won was trading at 1,464.8 won against the U.S. dollar at 11:20 a.m., down 10.8 won from the previous session.
The dealing room at Hana Bank in Seoul on May 8, 2026 (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
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