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Kospi collapses 6% after 8,000 breakout as Samsung strike fears trigger fast unwind
Economy
Published on 15 May 2026
Samsung shares fell 8.6% on a looming 18-day strike
South Korea’s Kospi whipsawed sharply, briefly crossing the historic 8,000 level before plunging more than 6% as tech stocks sold off and foreign investors exited. The index erased its early gains to close at 7,493.18, while the Kosdaq fell over 5%. Samsung Electronics became the focal point after its union approved an 18-day strike starting May 21, even as the company offered fresh wage talks. The shock spread across Asian markets amid geopolitical noise and renewed US Iran pressure.
- Kospi fell more than 6% after touching 8,000 intraday
- Index closed at 7,493.18, reversing earlier gains quickly
- Foreign investors sold 5.6 trillion won net on the day
- Samsung shares dropped 8.6% over an 18-day strike starting May 21
- Kosdaq slid more than 5% to 1,129.82
- 2026 rally nearly 90% up, with concentration in Samsung and SK Hynix
Read the full story at The Economic Times
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
The Economic Times