On Thursday, the KOSPI ended down 74.43 points, or 1.44 percent, at 5,089.14 from the previous day. After opening lower, the index at one point fell below the 5,000 level during the session.

At 9:06 a.m., the Korea Exchange triggered a KOSPI sell-sidecar. It was the second time this year that a KOSPI sell-sidecar has been triggered, following Feb. 2. The KOSPI later narrowed its losses and recovered the 5,000 level.

Foreign investors posted net selling of 3.327 trillion won, the second-largest net foreign selling on record for the KOSPI. This week alone, they dumped 11.09 trillion won worth of shares on the market. Individuals and institutions were net buyers of 2.175 trillion won and 959.6 billion won, respectively.

All of the top 10 stocks by market capitalisation, including chipmakers, ended the week lower.

Samsung Electronics closed at 158,700 won, down 600 won, or 0.38 percent, from the previous day. SK Hynix fell 1,000 won, or 0.12 percent, to 841,000 won.

Most others also ended lower, including Hyundai Motor, down 4.20 percent, Kia, down 2.56 percent, LG Energy Solution, down 2.53 percent, Samsung Biologics, down 2.00 percent, SK Square, down 4.12 percent, Hanwha Aerospace, down 3.59 percent, Doosan Enerbility, down 1.77 percent, and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, down 1.82 percent.

The KOSDAQ ended down 27.64 points, or 2.49 percent, at 1,080.77. Institutions posted net selling of 165.8 billion won, while individuals and foreign investors were net buyers of 148.8 billion won and 64.8 billion won, respectively.