SEOUL, Oct. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares opened sharply lower Friday, weighed down by overnight losses in U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor stocks, while rising oil prices added to market jitters.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 130.6 points, or 2.36 percent, to 5,403.17 at the opening bell.
Overnight, U.S. stocks closed mixed, with losses in major technology shares weighing on the broader market.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.02 percent, while the S&P 500 fell 1.21 percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite shed 2.6 percent.
Micron Technology plunged 6.26 percent, while Nvidia and Intel tumbled 4.4 percent and 8.04 percent, respectively.
Renewed jitters over the AI industry dragged global markets lower, while oil prices climbed amid concerns over potential supply disruptions after Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels said they had again attacked key facilities in Saudi Arabia.
Financial data is shown on a screen inside the dealing room of Hana Bank in central Seoul on Oct. 22, 2026. (Yonhap)
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