South Korea's KOSPI index fell by 0.3%, with battery and chemical stocks declining.

The benchmark KOSPI index fell 0.3% in early trading to 2,549.84 points, dragged down by battery and chemical stocks. Foreign investors were net sellers. The South Korean won weakened against the US dollar. South Korea's Minister of Economy and Finance, Choi Sang-mook, announced his resignation the night before, amid political turmoil caused by former President Yoon Suk-yeol. Yoon Suk-yeol has been dismissed from office after briefly attempting to impose martial law in December last year in a manner that violated the constitution. Index heavyweight Samsung Electronics fell 0.9%. Chemical company LG Chem dropped 3.0%. Battery manufacturer Samsung SDI declined 2.2%.