KOSPI Plummets Over 5% Amid Heavy Foreign and Institutional Sell-off

The South Korean stock market suffered a severe downturn today, with the benchmark KOSPI plunging 5.72% to close at 6,690.62, and the tech-heavy KOSDAQ dropping 5.32% to 748.22. Foreign and institutional investors heavily unloaded shares, recording net sales of over KRW 3.26 trillion and KRW 1.95 trillion in the KOSPI market, respectively, while the USD/KRW exchange rate closed at 1,474.52.

SKoceanplant (100090) +6.32%

P/E	P/B	EPS	Mkt Cap	ROE	Debt Ratio	52W Range
29.36	1.41	625	₩1.1T	5.63%	40.23%	12,500–31,600

SKoceanplant shares rose 6.32% amid a broader sector rally. The primary driver was optimism surrounding record-high offshore wind power orders and expectations of a potential sale [6]. This was supported by simultaneous net buying from both foreign and institutional investors [2] and general upward momentum in the shipbuilding equipment theme [4]. During trading on July 24, the stock surged by as much as 12.22% to KRW 19,370 [1] and triggered a volatility interrupter (VI) [5]. However, specific details regarding its core business mentioned in some reports remain unconfirmed [3].

SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS (207940) +10.08%

P/E	P/B	EPS	Mkt Cap	ROE	Debt Ratio	52W Range
57.13	9.42	26,572	₩70.3T	19.56%	51.40%	982,000–1,987,000

Samsung Biologics surged 10.08% after announcing record-breaking earnings, with first-half operating profit exceeding KRW 1 trillion for the first time [7][10]. This stellar performance reversed sentiment from July 22, when shares fell over 3% following news of a KRW 2.7 trillion debt-financed acquisition of a company that had been in deficit for three years [11]. During trading on July 24, the stock climbed 8.92% to KRW 1,502,000 [8]. Meanwhile, a target price downgrade to KRW 2,000,000 was reported, though the specific reasons remain unconfirmed [9].

LIG Defense&Aerospace (079550) +3.53%

P/E	P/B	EPS	Mkt Cap	ROE	Debt Ratio	52W Range
66.17	11.64	11,516	₩16.8T	22.47%	440.12%	360,000–1,118,000

LIG Defense&Aerospace gained 3.53% following positive supply news and long-term growth forecasts. The company secured a KRW 120.15 billion contract (2.79% of sales) for the initial mass production procurement of L-SAM [14]. Additionally, brokerage reports highlighted sustained CAPEX expansion driven by ongoing global conflicts, bolstering investor confidence [15][16][17]. On July 24, shares rose up to 5.71% intraday to KRW 778,000 [13]. Although some analysts previously lowered their target price despite strong operating profit forecasts, the specific reasons for this downgrade remain unconfirmed [18].

Sources

1. SK오션플랜트 주가, 7월 24일 장중 19,370원 12.22% 상승 — 톱스타뉴스 · 2026-07-24
2. [장중수급포착] SK오션플랜트, 외국인/기관 동시 순매수… 주가 +21.21% — 뉴스핌 · 2026-07-23
3. SK오션플랜트 주가, 급등세... 주력 사업은? — 금강일보 · 2026-07-24
4. 특징주, SK오션플랜트-조선기자재 테마 상승세에 5.74% ↑ — 매일경제 마켓 · 2026-07-24
5. [속보] SK오션플랜트 VI 발동, 주가 도약…8%대 급등 '들썩' — CBC뉴스 · 2026-07-24
6. [증시다트]SK오션플랜트, 해상풍력 수주 사상 최대…증권가 “이제 남은 건 매각” — :: 위즈경제 :: · 2026-07-21
7. 삼성바이오로직스 주가 장중 9%대 올라, '상반기 영업이익 1조' 호실적 발표 — 비즈니스포스트 · 2026-07-24
8. 삼성바이오로직스 주가, 7월 24일 장중 1,502,000원 8.92% 상승 — 톱스타뉴스 · 2026-07-24
9. 삼성바이오로직스, 목표주가 200만 원으로 하향 조정 — 2news.co.kr · 2026-07-24
10. 삼성바이오로직스, 2년연속 사상 최고실적 탄력…상반기 첫 영업익 1조원 돌파 — 코리아리포트 · 2026-07-23
11. 빚내서 3년 적자 기업 샀다…삼성바이오로직스, 2.7조 인수 당일 주가 3%대 하락 — 뉴스필드 · 2026-07-22
12. 삼성바이오로직스 주가, 급등세... 이유는? — 금강일보 · 2026-07-24
13. LIG디펜스앤에어로스페이스 주가, 7월 24일 장중 778,000원 5.71% 상승 — 톱스타뉴스 · 2026-07-24
14. LIG디펜스앤에어로스페이스 수주공시 - L-SAM 최초 양산 물품구매계약 1,201.5억원 (매출액대비 2.79 %) — 한국경제 · 2026-07-24
15. LIG디펜스앤에어로스페이스 끝나지 않는 전쟁. 계속 덧붙는 CAPEX 증권사 발표에 강세…3.13% — 매일경제 · 2026-07-22
16. "LIG디펜스앤에어로스페이스, 긴 성장 뒷받침하는 CAPEX…선호주↑" - 머니투데이 — 머니투데이 · 2026-07-21
17. [리포트 브리핑]LIG디펜스앤에어로스페이스, '끝나지 않는 전쟁. 계속 덧붙는 CAPEX' 목표가 980,000원 - 다올투자증권 — 뉴스핌 · 2026-07-21
18. “LIG디펜스앤에어로스페이스, 영업이익 상회 전망에도 목표가↓” — 매일경제 · 2026-07-20

This is market commentary, not investment advice.