South Korea’s KOSDAQ Triggers 20-Minute Trading Halt After Selloff

South Korea’s KOSDAQ index triggered a circuit breaker after a sharp selloff, suspending trading for 20 minutes as the country’s KOSPI benchmark fell 8% and approached a trading halt.

The two developments put separate South Korean equity indexes under pressure at the same time. KOSDAQ trading was interrupted for 20 minutes, while KOSPI’s 8% slide left that benchmark close to its own halt threshold. The 8% decline applied to KOSPI; the confirmed trading suspension applied to KOSDAQ.

The circuit breaker made the KOSDAQ interruption a fixed 20-minute pause. KOSPI was nearing a halt, not already stopped, leaving the two developments at different stages. That distinction separates a confirmed interruption from a market move approaching a threshold. Together, the sharp KOSDAQ selloff and 8% KOSPI decline put South Korean equities under pressure. The disruption also puts regional risk sentiment in focus for crypto-market participants watching broader financial conditions.