Seoul, Aug. 25 -- Shares of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix fell nearly 4 per cent each on Tuesday, dragging South Korea's KOSPI more than 3 per cent amid a broad selloff in US chip stocks.

The KOSPI opened at 6,535.93, down 161.03 points, or 2.40 per cent, from the previous session, as per the Korea Exchange and slipped below 6,500 mark shortly after the open. The index was trading at around 6,530.93, down 166.03 points or 2.48 per cent at the time of reporting. Likewise, KOSDAQ also began trading at 806.93, down 6.40 points, or 0.79 per cent.

Selling pressure intensified after the open, led by semiconductor stocks. Among major large-cap stocks, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix recorded some of the steepest declines. Samsung Electroni...