SEOUl: South Korean shares experienced a significant decline of over 1 percent on Monday as Samsung Electronics reached its lowest price in over two years, driven by increased uncertainties surrounding the new Trump administration's trade policies. Concurrently, the local currency experienced a sharp decrease against the U.S. dollar. According to Yonhap News Agency, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell by 29.49 points, or 1.15 percent, closing at 2,531.66, following a 0.14 percent drop on the preceding Friday. Trade volume was notably heavy, with 565.2 million shares traded, valued at 11.1 trillion won (approximately US$7.96 billion), with the number of losing stocks significantly outnumbering those gaining, 726 to 186. Foreign investors sold a net 537.8 billion won worth of local stocks, and institutional investors offloaded a net 237 billion won, counteracting a net purchase of 736.1 billion won by individual investors. Notably, overseas investors have been selling off Samsung Elec tronics for nine consecutive sessions since October 30. This selling trend follows a prior spree of 33 consecutive sessions from September 3 to October 25, during which a net 12.9 trillion won was sold, amid concerns that the company is losing momentum as demand for AI chips surges. The shift in trade and economic policies anticipated under the incoming Trump administration has also adversely impacted Samsung Electronics and other semiconductor stocks. Samsung Electronics saw its shares drop 3.51 percent to 55,000 won, the lowest closing price since September 30, 2022, when it ended at 53,100 won. SK hynix, a competitor in chip manufacturing, fell 3.94 percent to 192,600 won, while Hanmi Semiconductor, a key chip equipment supplier, slumped 6.48 percent to 88,100 won. In the retail sector, Lotte Shopping fell 2.37 percent to 61,700 won, and Shinsegae decreased 3.25 percent to 136,900 won. Food company Nongshim saw a decline of 3.16 percent to 353,000 won, and Hotel Shilla, a part of the Samsung Group, decre ased by 2.88 percent to 38,800 won. Conversely, LG Energy Solution, a leading battery manufacturer, rose by 4.39 percent to 416,000 won following news reports that it will supply cylindrical batteries to Space X. Hyundai Motor, South Korea's top carmaker, increased by 3.69 percent to 211,000 won, with its affiliate Kia also rising by 1.72 percent to 94,600 won. The local currency stood at 1,394.7 won against the U.S. dollar at 3:30 p.m., marking a decline of 8.3 won from the previous session. Bond prices also fell, with the yield on three-year Treasurys rising by 1.2 basis points to 2.901 percent, and the yield on five-year government bonds increasing by 0.6 basis points to 2.948 percent.