South Korean stocks started the day lower, following a decline on Wall Street, as investors awaited the upcoming Jackson Hole meeting. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) fell by 0.2 percent in early trading, with major US indexes also experiencing losses. All eyes are on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's speech at the Jackson Hole meeting, which is expected to provide insights into the Fed's monetary policy direction. In Seoul, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix saw declines, while LG Energy Solution and LG Chem experienced gains. Additionally, biopharmaceutical firms Samsung Biologics and Celltrion also saw increases in their stock prices. The local currency, the won, was trading at 1,329.9 won against the US dollar, marking a slight increase from the previous session's close. The market bellwether Samsung Electronics and chipmaking rival SK hynix retreated, while ship maker HD Hyundai Heavy plunged. On the other hand, leading battery maker LG Energy Solution and top chemical producer LG Chem saw gains, as did major biopharmaceutical firms Samsung Biologics and Celltrion. These movements come as investors await the Jackson Hole meeting and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's speech, which is expected to provide clarity on the Fed's monetary policy direction.