The benchmark index traded around 6,530 after the opening bell, swinging between gains and losses after tumbling 4.5 percent on Monday to close at 6,516.30, its steepest one-day decline this year.
Early optimism that the selloff was easing faded as foreign buying quickly lost momentum. Overseas investors were net buyers of just 4.3 billion won ($3.1 million) worth of KOSPI shares, while institutions sold a net 229.9 billion won. Retail investors stepped in to buy a net 197 billion won, providing support for the market.
Semiconductor heavyweights outperformed the broader market. SK hynix rose 0.79 percent to 1,774,000 won ($1,177.43), while Samsung Electronics gained 2.25 percent to 249,500 won ($164.77).
Selling pressure, however, broadened beyond technology stocks. Hyundai Motor dropped 4.3 percent to 382,000 won ($258.49), while declining issues outnumbered advancing ones by roughly four to one on the main board, underscoring the market's still-fragile sentiment.
The tech-heavy KOSDAQ fared worse, falling 2.2 percent to 733.10 as investors continued to shun smaller growth stocks.
Elsewhere in Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 advanced 0.3 percent to 64,335.30 as Tokyo resumed trading after Monday's Marine Day holiday, leaving Seoul as the region's weakest major equity market.
The won strengthened 0.70 won to 1,477.80 against the U.S. dollar on speculation that proceeds from SK hynix's $26.5 billion Nasdaq ADR offering earlier this month were being repatriated to South Korea, lending modest support to the local currency.
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