South Korean shares tumble as Samsung shareholder-return plan disappoints

SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS

24/08/2026 07:59

KOSPI falls, foreigners net sellers
Korean won strengthens against dollar
South Korea benchmark bond yield falls
For the midday report, please click nL1N44L01K
SEOUL, Aug 24 (Reuters) - A round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares fell more than 3% on Monday, as chipmakers slumped on investor disappointment over Samsung Electronics' announcement of lower-than-expected shareholder returns. 
** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 closed down 215.99 points, or 3.12%, at 6,696.96.
** Samsung Electronics 005930.KS fell 8.70%, after the chipmaker's record $79 billion shareholder-return plan disappointed investors who had expected a larger share of AI-fueled cash windfalls and greater clarity on share buybacks.
** Samsung Life 032830.KS and Samsung Fire 000810.KS also slumped 13.1% and 3.8%, respectively.
** Peer chipmaker SK Hynix 000660.KS lost 3.41%. 
** Battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS climbed 5.39%, while Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS were down 0.24% and up 0.46%, respectively.
** Steelmaker POSCO Holdings 005490.KS added 5.65%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics 207940.KS rose 1.42%.
** Of the total 903 traded issues, 579 shares advanced, while 286 declined.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 3.7 trillion won ($2.68 billion). 
** The won was quoted at 1,382.4 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.26% higher than its previous close at 1,386.0.
** In money and debt markets, September futures on three-year treasury bonds KTBc1 gained 0.11 point to 103.24.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR fell by 1.7 basis points to 3.836%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR fell by 7.3 basis points to 4.341%.

($1 = 1,381.1500 won)

 (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Sonia Cheema)
 ((jihoon.lee@thomsonreuters.com;))