South Korean stocks were sharply down Tuesday as investors remained cautious amid rising global tensions.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index(KOSPI) ended the day two-point-57 percent lower, losing 55-point-61 points, to close at two-thousand-106-point-one. The index fell below the two-thousand-100 mark for the first time in 19 months.

The tech-heavy KOSDAQ also plunged, losing 25-point-15 points, or three-point-38 percent, to 719.

On the foreign exchange, the local currency weakened nine-point-two won against the dollar, ending the session at one-thousand-137-point-six won.