Seoul Shares Down 1.24% as Samsung Disappoints on Shareholder Returns

On October 29, 2026, South Korean shares experienced a significant decline of 1.24%, primarily driven by disappointing results from Samsung Electronics. The company's third-quarter earnings slightly missed expectations, and investors were left unsatisfied due to a lack of updates on its shareholder-return plan.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) dropped by 74.78 points, closing at 5,937.66. This decline followed a notable surge of over 6% the previous day, fueled by strong earnings from chipmakers like SK Hynix, which had announced additional shareholder returns.

Samsung reported a record operating profit of 107.44 trillion won, marking a 783.1% increase from the previous year, driven by robust demand for AI-driven chips. However, the absence of detailed plans for future shareholder returns dampened investor sentiment. Analyst Lee Kyung-min noted, "Investor sentiment weakened as the company did not present a detailed shareholder-return plan."

Trade volume was relatively low, with 279.7 million shares traded. Major players in the market had mixed results, with Samsung Electronics falling 4.13% while SK Hynix gained 2.62%. The Korean won appreciated slightly against the U.S. dollar, reflecting some stability in the currency amid the stock market's volatility.