2026.03.2601:31:12UTC+00South Korean Stocks Slip on Diplomatic Uncertainty

The benchmark KOSPI slipped 1.62% to around 5,551 on Thursday, retracing gains from earlier in the week as investors turned cautious amid mixed geopolitical signals. Early optimism following indications from the White House that talks with Tehran are making progress proved short-lived, with uncertainty remaining elevated. Conflicting messages from Iran—most notably the foreign minister’s dismissal of any formal negotiations—have curbed risk appetite, leaving investors weighing the likelihood of de-escalation. The conflict, which began on 28 February 2026, has now persisted for about four weeks. Selling pressure was broad-based across local equities, with heavyweight technology stocks underperforming. Samsung Electronics (-2.83%) and SK hynix (-3.82%) were key drags on the index, while SK Square (-5.21%), Hyundai Motor (-1.40%), and LG Energy Solution (-1.40%) also recorded notable declines.