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Korea Exchange (KRX) headquarters in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo courtesy of the Korea Exchange) |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] SEOUL, November 9, 2025 — Foreign investors sold a record ₩7.26 trillion (US $5.3 billion) worth of South Korean stocks on the KOSPI last week, the largest weekly net outflow in history, as renewed concerns over a possible “AI bubble” originating from the U.S. triggered sharp market volatility.
According to data compiled by Yonhap News, overseas investors were net sellers for five consecutive trading days from November 3 to 7, surpassing the previous record of ₩7.05 trillion set in August 2021.
Foreign net sales totaled ₩795 billion on Nov. 3, surged to ₩2 trillion on both Nov. 4 and 5, and remained heavy at ₩1.7 trillion and ₩455 billion on Nov. 6 and 7, respectively.
The ₩2.23 trillion sell-off on Nov. 4 marked the largest single-day net selling in more than four years.
Heavy selling was concentrated in semiconductor blue chips, led by SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics, which together accounted for ₩3.72 trillion and ₩1.50 trillion in net sales, respectively—representing 72 percent of the week’s total foreign outflow.
Conversely, stocks such as LG CNS, SK Square, and LG Innotek saw net foreign buying.
Market analysts attribute the foreign exodus to a stronger U.S. dollar and a rising KRW/USD exchange rate, which have dampened foreign investor sentiment.
“Until exchange-rate volatility stabilizes, foreign sell-offs are likely to persist,” said one Seoul-based strategist, adding that investors are now watching the U.S. government shutdown resolution, the October Consumer Price Index (CPI), and NVIDIA’s upcoming earnings as key catalysts for global market direction.
Alphabiz Reporter Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
