(ATTN: UPDATES with latest figures in para 2; ADDS more info in paras 3, 7-11; CHANGES photo)

SEOUL, July 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened sharply lower Tuesday, dragged down by losses in tech shares following a selloff in chipmakers on Wall Street.

After opening 5.26 percent lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) extended losses, falling 432.95 points, or 6.41 percent, to 6,322.80 as of 9:15 a.m.

The Korea Exchange, the country's bourse operator, activated a sell-side sidecar for the KOSPI for 20 minutes at 9:06 a.m. after the benchmark index fell more than 5 percent.

Overnight Wall Street finished mixed. The Nasdaq declined 0.18 percent, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.51 percent.

However, semiconductor shares were weak as investors remained skeptical about tech giants' heavy spending on artificial intelligence (AI). The PHLX chip index, a gauge of U.S. semiconductor giants, extended its recent selloff, falling 2.2 percent.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington and Tehran were having "good talks," and there was a chance of a deal over the ongoing conflict, but he warned that the fighting would resume if the negotiations fail.

In Seoul, semiconductor shares contributed to the sluggish opening.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics slumped 7.68 percent, and its chipmaking rival SK hynix plunged 9.36 percent.

Hanmi Semiconductor, a leading chip equipment manufacturer, sank 8.26 percent, and SK Square, the parent of SK hynix, tumbled 9.58 percent.

Top carmaker Hyundai Motor dived 5.33 percent, and leading battery maker LG Energy Solution dropped 3 percent.

The Korean won was trading at 1,470.25 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., down 4.25 won from the close of stock trading the day before.

brk@yna.co.kr

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