The benchmark KOSPI fell 0.5% to around 6,195 on Friday, snapping a three-day winning streak, as investors locked in gains after a recent rally while remaining cautious over Middle East developments. The index had climbed above the 6,200 level in the previous session for the first time since the onset of the US–Iran conflict, prompting profit-taking. Shares of Samsung Electronics (-0.3%) and SK hynix (-0.6%) declined, alongside Hanwha Aerospace (-4.6%), Doosan Enerbility (-1.5%), and Woori Financial Group (-0.4%). Sentiment was also tempered by lingering uncertainty despite signs of easing geopolitical tensions, after the US signaled progress in ceasefire talks involving Iran and a temporary truce between Israel and Lebanon. While the developments raised hopes of de-escalation, the lack of clarity over a lasting agreement kept risk appetite in check. At the same time, elevated energy prices and supply concerns continued to weigh on South Korea’s outlook as a major energy importer.
