The KOSPI opened lower as profit-taking emerged after the previous day's sharp rebound. The Kosdaq is showing extreme volatility after a buy-sidecar, which temporarily halts the effectiveness of program trading buy orders, was triggered again following the previous session.

As of 9:14 a.m. on Friday, the KOSPI was trading at 5,551.93, down 31.97 points, or 0.57 percent, from the previous session.

The index opened down 92.88 points, or 1.66 percent, at 5,491.02 from the previous day and trimmed some of its losses. It has been volatile, hitting 5,558.25 and falling as low as 5,464.36.

By investor group, foreign investors and institutions led the decline, with net selling of 456.7 billion won and 146.5 billion won, respectively. Retail investors, by contrast, were net buyers of 606.3 billion won, appearing to support the index.

Top stocks by market capitalisation were mixed.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics fell 4,100 won, or 2.14 percent, from the previous session to 187,500 won. Semiconductor and IT-related stocks were also lower, including SK Hynix, down 2.13 percent, Samsung Biologics, down 1.09 percent, and SK Square, down 3.71 percent. Hyundai Motor rose 0.73 percent, LG Energy Solution gained 1.75 percent, Hanwha Aerospace rose 2.90 percent, Kia added 0.36 percent and Doosan Enerbility gained 3.20 percent.

At the same time, the Kosdaq was trading at 1,151.59, up 35.18 points, or 3.15 percent, from the previous day.

In the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won-dollar exchange rate was trading at 1,474.90 won per dollar, down 4.10 won, or 0.28 percent, from the previous session.