[DigitalToday reporter Sang-yeob Oh (오상엽)] The KOSPI falls in early trading, breaking below the 5,300 level and sliding into the 5,200 range.

As of 9:21 a.m., the KOSPI is down 38.51 points, or 0.73 percent, from the previous session at 5,263.18.

The index opens down 7.94 points, or 0.15 percent, at 5,293.75 from the previous session. It turns slightly higher before switching back to losses.

Foreign investors are net sellers of 249.6 billion won, while individuals and institutions are net buyers of 144.2 billion won and 111.4 billion won, respectively.

Among top market-cap stocks, Samsung Electronics, down 1.63 percent, and SK Hynix, down 2.74 percent, fall and drag the index lower.

Hyundai Motor, down 0.52 percent, LG Energy Solution, down 0.51 percent, Hanwha Aerospace, down 0.96 percent, and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, down 0.37 percent, are also weaker.

By contrast, biotech shares such as Samsung Biologics, up 0.82 percent, and Celltrion, up 5.93 percent, rise. Kia, up 0.39 percent, KB Financial Group, up 2.57 percent, and Shinhan Financial Group, up 0.92 percent, are also higher.

At the same time, the KOSDAQ is down 2.38 points, or 0.21 percent, from the previous session at 1,112.82.

The index opens up 5.42 points, or 0.49 percent, at 1,120.62 from the previous session and holds slightly higher before turning lower in intraday trading.