SK Hynix Inc. shares fell in Seoul after a rout on Wall Street, reflecting heightened caution among investors following this year's unprecedented rally in global chipmaker stocks.

The decline underscores growing nervousness about the sustainability of the AI memory boom that has driven semiconductor valuations to record highs. Traders in Seoul reacted to overnight weakness in U.S.-listed chip peers, where profit-taking accelerated after months of relentless gains.

Analysts note that while long-term demand fundamentals for high-bandwidth memory remain intact, near-term positioning has become stretched. The selloff suggests investors are reassessing risk-reward after the sector's parabolic ascent, with some questioning whether current prices fully discount potential cyclical headwinds.

Market participants will watch for any guidance from major memory buyers or supply-chain indicators that could clarify whether the pullback represents a healthy consolidation or a more significant shift in sentiment toward the AI infrastructure trade.