Nikkei Opens Down 1.3%, Kospi Falls 5.6% as Chipmakers Slide

The scale of the Kospi move, far larger than the Nikkei's, points to a Korea-specific semiconductor shock rather than broad regional risk aversion, with losses concentrated in the two chipmaking names that dominate the index. That concentration matters because it amplifies index-level damage and can spill into currency and broader Asian risk sentiment. Whether the selling stays confined to these heavyweights or broadens across the two markets is the open question.