South Korean stocks experienced a sharp decline, with the Kospi index plummeting nearly 10% from its record high. Chip giants SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics led the sell-off as investors grew concerned about an overstretched rally. This downturn follows a period of strong gains, with market watchers now closely awaiting Micron Technology's earnings for insights into the semiconductor sector's health. Foreign investors offloaded significant holdings amid rising market volatility.