KOSPI Attempts Recovery After Opening Below 4,000... KOSDAQ Also Weak

Impact of Oracle's Decline in the U.S. Market

On December 18, the KOSPI opened lower, falling below the 4,000 mark, as a result of the overall decline in the New York stock market the previous day. The KOSDAQ also began trading on a weak note.

As the won/dollar exchange rate continues its soaring march, on the 18th, the status board in the dealing room of Hana Bank in Jung-gu, Seoul, displayed the won/dollar exchange rate and the KOSPI index. On that day, the won/dollar exchange rate opened at 1,477.3 won, down 2.5 won just one day after surpassing 1,480 won for the first time in eight months. December 18, 2025 Photo by Jo Yongjun

As of 9:13 a.m. on this day, the KOSPI stood at 3,999.73, down 1.40% from the previous trading day. The index started at 3,989.60, a 1.65% drop from the previous session, and has been fluctuating around the 4,000 level.

Individual investors and foreign investors are net sellers, offloading 29.1 billion won and 3.8 billion won respectively, dragging the index down. In contrast, institutional investors are net buyers, purchasing 29.2 billion won.

All sectors are currently in decline. The largest drops are seen in chemicals (-3.44%), metals (-2.95%), electricity and gas (-2.52%), transportation equipment and parts (-1.83%), general services (-1.86%), IT services (-1.86%), machinery, equipment, and construction (-1.60%), and manufacturing (-1.42%).

Among the top 10 stocks by market capitalization, all except SK Hynix (up 1.27%) are falling. This includes Samsung Electronics (-0.65%), LG Energy Solution (-7.46%), Samsung Biologics (-0.23%), Hyundai Motor (-1.31%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-3.28%), Doosan Enerbility (-1.85%), Kia (-0.91%), and KB Financial Group (-0.97%).

At the same time, the KOSDAQ is at 901.07, down 1.10% from the previous session. The index opened at 899.30, a 1.29% decrease from the previous trading day, and is fluctuating around the 900 mark.

While individual investors are selling off 52.9 billion won, foreign investors and institutional investors are also net sellers, offloading 45.6 billion won and 10 billion won respectively.

All sectors on the KOSDAQ market are also declining. The largest drops are in non-metallics (-2.34%), finance (-2.21%), electrical and electronics (-1.97%), paper and wood (-1.72%), chemicals (-1.40%), manufacturing (-1.28%), telecommunications (-1.26%), and metals (-1.21%).

Among the top KOSDAQ stocks by market capitalization, ABL Bio (up 1.76%), Rainbow Robotics (up 0.78%), and Kolon TissueGene (up 1.04%) are rising, while Alteogen (-0.59%), Ecopro BM (-4.95%), Ecopro (-3.48%), Legochem Bio (-0.71%), HLB (-1.72%), Peptron (-3.29%), and Samchundang Pharm (-1.97%) are all showing weakness.