On October 13, South Korea's benchmark index briefly dipped below the 6,000-point threshold, largely due to a significant slump in the shares of Samsung and SK Hynix. Analysts caution that the ongoing exodus of foreign capital presents a more substantial risk. Eugene Investment Securities analyst Huh Jae-hwan highlighted that the magnitude of these outflows cannot be solely attributed to portfolio rebalancing following recent gains. South Korean domestic investors are now tasked with absorbing the selling pressure, a challenge that may prove formidable given that retail investors continue to exercise caution in the wake of July's market downturn, and institutions such as the National Pension Service have limited capacity to increase their holdings.

Yuanta Securities analyst Lee Jae-won emphasized that the trajectory of foreign capital flows is a more pressing concern than the earnings reports from the semiconductor sector. He noted that despite Samsung Electronics' third-quarter operating profit surpassing market expectations, buoyed by robust memory prices and sustained investments in AI infrastructure, the persistent selling by foreign investors is dragging down the performance of South Korea's KOSPI index compared to other global markets.