Samsung Electronics crash triggers massive KOSPI plunge

On 28 February, South Korea's KOSPI index fell below the 6,000‑point mark, plunging more than 10 % in a single session – the steepest daily drop since the 1997 IMF crisis. The decline erased roughly 2 trillion won of market capitalisation, with a monthly loss of 28.9 % that set a new historical peak.

Samsung Electronics lost 13.39 % to about 220,000 won per share, while fellow chipmaker SK Hynix fell 14.65 % to 1.55 million won. The sharp fall of the two dominant semiconductor stocks dragged the broader market down, prompting circuit‑breaker halts and widespread investor panic.

Analysts cite lingering concerns over a semiconductor peak‑out and the recent listing of Chinese memory firm CXMT as amplifying market anxiety, though they note that capital flight to China was limited. Despite the tumble, some brokerage houses maintain a bullish outlook on Samsung Electronics, citing strong demand for high‑performance MLCC components used in AI servers.