The benchmark KOSPI fell 0.53% to close at 3,189 on Tuesday, pulling back from earlier gains amid declines in consumer non-durables, retail trade, and producer manufacturing. Notable losers were Cosmax Inc (-16.83%), E-Mart Co (-8.14%), and HD Hyundai Electric (-1.51%). Sentiment was further dampened after the Korea Development Institute (KDI) maintained its 2025 growth outlook at 0.8%, citing persistent weakness in construction investment. The sector is expected to contract 8.1% on-year in 2025, a steeper fall than last year’s 3.3% decline. On the external front, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Donald Trump are set to meet in Washington on August 25 to strengthen bilateral ties and economic security cooperation, with discussions expected to focus on mitigating the impact of shifting global trade conditions driven by US tariff policies on South Korea’s export-reliant economy.