Global Markets | South Korean shares end 4.5% lower as Iran ceasefire hopes fade

South Korean shares plummeted over 4% on Thursday, with the KOSPI closing down 4.47% at 5,234.05. This decline was triggered by fading hopes for a swift end to the Iran conflict following U.S. President Trump's vow to continue military strikes. Concerns over the Strait of Hormuz and a supplementary budget to address energy security threats also weighed on the market.