Korean Stocks Plummet Ahead of Nvidia Earnings Release

South Korean stocks opened lower on Monday as investors took profits ahead of major events, including Nvidia's upcoming earnings release.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) dropped 0.73 percent in the first minute of trading to 6,862.18, losing ground after closing above 6,900 points on Friday.

Investors locked in gains from large-cap chip stocks such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, which are closely following Nvidia's earnings for hints on the future direction of the artificial intelligence market.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes closed higher last week despite rising U.S. government bond yields, with investors engaging in bargain hunting.