Japan and South Korea Stocks Weaken as Kospi Drops 2.7%, Samsung and SK Hynix Fall Over 5%, Kioxia Drops Over 4%

• KOSPI fell 2.70% and Nikkei 0.73% on Sept 28, led by tech stock losses. • Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix dropped sharply amid Solidigm IPO scrutiny. • Middle East tensions resurfaced after Trump rejected an Iranian proposal. Japanese and South Korean stocks fell on September 28, with South Korea's KOSPI down 2.70% to 6,889.75 and Japan's Nikkei 225 down 0.73% to 65,877.62. Large-cap tech names led losses: Samsung Electronics fell 5.43% to 270,000 won (~$198) and SK Hynix dropped 5.05% to 1.768 million won. In Japan, Kioxia fell 4.37% to 53,340 yen (~$339), while SoftBank Group rose 1.53% to 6,244 yen. Sentiment was hit by news that SK Hynix's U.S. subsidiary Solidigm may pursue a U.S. IPO as early as next year, prompting investors to scrutinize SK Group's complex ownership structure and pressuring the semiconductor sector. Middle East tensions also resurfaced after Trump rejected an Iranian proposal, with Tehran maintaining its hardline stance on reopening a key waterway.