South Korea's Kospi and Asian Markets Fall Sharply Amid Middle East Conflict and Oil Concerns

South Korea's stock markets plunged sharply amid escalating conflict between Israel, the U.S., and Iran, triggering circuit breakers for the first time since August 2024. The Kospi and Kosdaq indices fell over 10%, reflecting investor concerns about rising oil prices and energy supply disruptions, as South Korea heavily depends on Middle Eastern oil imports. Similar sell-offs occurred in Thailand and other Asian markets, with fears of a prolonged Middle East war impacting global economic stability and inflation.