South Korea’s KOSPI briefly traded above 8,000 before reversing into a sharp sell-off, ultimately closing down 6.12% at 7,493.2 after deeper intraday losses that at one point were reported at more than 5% and as much as 7.00% to 7,421.91, triggering a five-minute sell-side circuit breaker. Heavy technology selling led the decline, with SK Hynix down 7.66% and Samsung Electronics down 8.61% by the close, while SK Square was also among the major decliners. In morning trade, foreign investors sold KRW 1.6 trillion, adding pressure to the market. Reports linked the move to rising oil prices, stalled U.S.-Iran talks, heavy outflows, profit-taking after a strong rebound in Asian emerging market equities since April, and company-specific concerns around Samsung Electronics wage negotiations and a possible strike.