SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea's benchmark stock index plunged 6% on Friday, briefly falling below 5,000 and forcing a market-wide trading halt, as a global selloff in artificial intelligence stocks hit the country's two chip giants.

The KOSPI fell 324.15 points, or 6.02%, to close at 5,059.65. The smaller KOSDAQ index finished 5% lower.

The rout extended a punishing week. The selloff followed a 5.28% drop on Thursday.

The selling began immediately at the open. Yonhap reported the KOSPI opened at 5,263.26, down 120.54 points, at 9:01 a.m. The exchange activated a 20-minute circuit breaker at 9:03........

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