[THE INVESTOR] Seoul shares ended lower on May 24 as investors offloaded technology and auto stocks on profit-taking. The Korean won rose against the US dollar.

The benchmark KOSPI fell 5.90 points, or 0.24 percent, to 2,466.01. Trade volume was heavy at 630.65 million shares worth 6.67 trillion won (US$6.20 billion) changing hands, with decliners outnumbering advancers 568 to 255.

Carmakers fell sharply following reports that the US government is considering imposing 25 percent tariffs on imported vehicles. Construction stocks declined as North Korea threatened to walk away from the planned summit with the United States on June 12 in Singapore, analysts said.

Declines in technology stocks also weighed on the main index, with market bellwether Samsung Electronics falling 0.77 percent to 51,400 won and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix declining 0.73 percent to 94,600 won. 

Top carmaker Hyundai Motor plunged 3.11 percent to 140,000 won, its affiliate Kia Motors also declined 2.82 percent to 32,700 won and Samsung C&T, the construction unit of Samsung Group, shed 0.77 percent to 129,000 won.

Among gainers, cosmetics giant Amorepacific rose 2.28 percent to 336,000 won, and leading steelmaker POSCO climbed 1.28 percent to 357,000 won.

The local currency closed at 1,079.60 won against the US dollar, up 1.10 won from the previous session.

By Song Seung-hyun and newswires (ssh@heraldcorp.com)