The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) dropped 45.27 points, or 1.46 percent, to 3,052.65 points in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Overnight, the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite plummeted 2.83 percent and the S&P 500 dipped 2.04 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average retreated 1.63 percent.
Investor sentiment also weakened over growing concerns the US debt ceiling may lead to critical consequences.
In Seoul, top cap Samsung Electronics lost 1.97 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix shed 2.42 percent.
Internet portal operator Naver retreated 1.78 percent, and leading chemical firm LG Chem declined 1.68 percent.
Top automaker Hyundai Motor decreased 0.99 percent, with pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics falling 1.61 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,187.45 won against the US dollar, down 3.05 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)
