KOSPI, KOSDAQ Trigger Circuit Breakers Amid Market Plunge

Circuit breakers were triggered on both the KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets at around 11:19 a.m. on the 4th as the stock market continued its steep decline of more than 8%. The measures came after sell-side sidecars were activated on both markets, but failed to stem the widening losses.

The Korea Exchange activated circuit breakers on the KOSDAQ at 11:18 a.m. and on the KOSPI at 11:19 a.m. A circuit breaker halts all trading for 20 minutes when an index falls 8% or more from the previous day's closing price for at least one minute.

This marks the first circuit breaker on the KOSPI since August 5, 2024. At the time of activation, the KOSPI and KOSDAQ had fallen 8.10% and 8.13%, respectively.