Seoul Stocks Plunge on Tech Selloff and Investor Caution

Seoul stocks opened sharply lower on Tuesday, dragged down by losses in technology shares and investor caution ahead of key events. The KOSPI index fell 2.4 percent to 6,452.12 as of 9:15 a.m., with technology stocks leading the decline.

Samsung Electronics dropped 4.28 percent, while its chipmaking rival SK hynix declined 6.46 percent. Hyundai Motor also fell 1.57 percent, and Hanwha Aerospace shed 0.72 percent. However, Samyang Foods rose 0.2 percent, and Korea Zinc climbed 2.31 percent.

The won traded at 1,380.00 against the U.S. dollar, up 3.2 won from the previous session. Investors are awaiting Nvidia's upcoming earnings release and weighing escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.