Seoul shares slipped to their lowest close since September 6 on Tuesday as investors remained worried about US fiscal woes and the uncertain timing for a crucial Greek bailout. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), reversing gains early in the day, finished down 0.59 percent at 1,889.70 points, extending its losing streak to four sessions.
South Korea's fall mirrored those elsewhere in Asia, as shares came under pressure from worries about a US fiscal policy stand-off and uncertainty over the euro zone's debt crisis, with global lenders holding back from giving further aid to debt-stricken Greece.
Blue chips were mixed, with tech heavyweight Samsung Electronics inching up 0.3 percent and steelmaker POSCO rising 0.6 percent, while automaker Hyundai Motor slid 2.1 percent. Foreign investors offloaded stakes for a fourth straight session, selling a net 5 billion Korean won ($4.59 million) worth of KOSPI shares, but the amount was far below Monday's 155 billion won. Declining shares outnumbered winners 613 to 214. The KOSPI 200 benchmark of core stocks was down 0.5 percent, while the junior KOSDAQ lost 1.5 percent.