On October 13, the South Korean KOSPI index dropped by 5.46%, closing at 6035.35 points. During the session, the index fell as low as 5911.11 points, marking its lowest level since late July.
The decline was driven by a sell-off in semiconductor stocks. Samsung Electronics shares fell by 7.39%, while SK Hynix shares dropped by 10.09%. Foreign investors sold a net ₩4.5 trillion, approximately $3.4 billion, worth of shares in a single day.
Market sentiment was impacted by reports from China's ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT). The company announced plans to introduce DDR5 RDIMM memory modules based on 4F² DRAM cell architecture by the end of 2026, which is expected to increase data density.
Analysts note that Samsung is not expected to begin production of similar architecture until 2028. However, experts remain cautious about CXMT's ability to achieve mass production, as the company has yet to demonstrate large-scale manufacturing capabilities.
The downturn extended to other Asian markets, with Japan's Tokyo Electron falling 7.2% and the Taiwan Taiex index declining by 2%. Investors are increasingly concerned about the long-term profitability of AI-related companies amid rising competition.
