KOSPI Drops Over 1% Intraday on Foreign and Institutional Selling

On the 15th, the KOSPI index opened at 4053.74, down 113.42 points from the previous trading day, displayed on the electronic board showing domestic index status at the Hana Bank dealing room in Jung-gu, Seoul. On the same day, the won-dollar exchange rate started trading at 1476 won, up 2.3 won from the previous trading day. Photo by Kang Jinhyung, December 15, 2025.

The KOSPI is showing a downward trend during trading hours, pressured by selling from foreign investors and institutions.

As of 10:24 a.m. on December 15, the KOSPI was trading at 4,105.63, down 1.48% from the previous day.

By investor type, institutions and foreign investors were net sellers of 170.6 billion won and 517.5 billion won, respectively, while individual investors were net buyers of 677.1 billion won. In the futures market, institutions were net buyers of 1.0037 trillion won, while foreign investors and individuals were net sellers of 753.3 billion won and 240.9 billion won, respectively.

By sector, more industries were declining than rising. The construction sector was down 4.78%, electronics and electrical equipment down 2.73%, precision chemicals down 2.47%, transportation equipment down 2.15%, machinery and equipment down 2.14%, securities down 1.85%, manufacturing down 1.75%, entertainment and culture down 1.21%, finance down 1.27%, and IT services down 0.82%. On the other hand, the metals sector was up 3.93%, pharmaceuticals up 2.08%, and paper and wood up 0.79%.

Most of the top market capitalization stocks were also weak. Samsung Electronics fell 3.12%, SK Hynix down 3.33%, LG Energy Solution down 0.56%, Hyundai Motor down 1.82%, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries down 3.14%, Doosan Enerbility down 3.26%, Kia down 0.87%, KB Financial Group down 0.63%, Hanwha Aerospace down 4.68%, and Samsung C&T down 2.35%. In contrast, Samsung Biologics was up 4.08% and Celltrion up 0.43%.

The KOSDAQ index was also moving in slightly negative territory. The KOSDAQ was trading at 934.45, down 0.28% from the previous day. By investor type, institutions and foreign investors were net sellers of 63.4 billion won and 8.2 billion won, respectively, while individual investors were net buyers of 97.3 billion won.

Among the top market capitalization stocks on the KOSDAQ, movements were mixed. Alteogen was up 0.4%, ABL Bio up 3.32%, Kolon TissueGene up 0.25%, Robotis up 4.46%, and D&D Pharmatech up 1.65%. On the other hand, Ecopro BM was down 0.11%, Ecopro down 0.9%, Ligachem Bio down 0.11%, HLB down 1.87%, Peptron down 1.49%, Samchundang Pharm down 0.22%, and LIG Nex1 down 2.36%.

Meanwhile, in the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won-dollar exchange rate was trading at 1,477.2 won, up 0.3 won from the previous day.