The benchmark KOSPI slipped 0.9% to around 3,577 on Monday, retreating from record highs in the previous session, as renewed US–China trade tensions weighed on investor sentiment. Washington announced new tariffs and export curbs on Friday in response to Beijing's tighter restrictions on rare earth elements and equipment, fueling concerns over an escalation that could disrupt global supply chains, particularly in semiconductors. On the corporate front, South Korean heavyweight chipmakers led losses, with SK Hynix plunging 3.6% and Samsung Electronics down 2%, while Hanwha Aerospace fell 2.7% and KB Financial Group declined 1.1%. Investors also locked in profits after the index’s recent rally to record highs. The weakness followed a sharp tech-led selloff on Wall Street late last week, further pressuring risk appetite.