South Korean shares tumbled Monday as terrorist attacks in Paris weighed down on investors' sentiment further on lingering worries about possible rate hike in the United States next month.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) tumbled 30.27 points, or 1.53 percent, to 1,943.02 at the close. It marked the lowest in about two months. Trading volume stood at 421 million shares worth 4.76 trillion won (4.06 billion US dollars).

Concerns emerged that South Korea, the export-driven economy, may face a fall in its export to Europe following the terrorist attacks in Paris that killed and wounded hundreds of innocent citizens.

Investors worried that fears for another terrorist attacks may weaken consumption and trade in Europe, resulting in a negative impact on the global economy.

South Korea's finance ministry held an emergency meeting to monitor possible negative effects from the incident.

The South Korean currency fell sharply to the dollar on growing appetite for safe assets such as the US currency. The currency finished at 1,174.1 won against the greenback, down 10.3 won from Friday's close.

Foreign investors reduced stock holdings by 235 billion won, while retail and institutional investors bought stocks worth 114 billion won and 13 billion won each. Foreigners dumped 958 billion won worth of stocks in the past five sessions.

Among large-cap shares, gainers outnumbered decliners. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics declined 2.6 percent, and the biggest auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis slid 0.4 percent. Memory chip giant SK Hynix 2.1 percent, and the most-used search engine Naver slumped 1.8 percent.

Top automaker Hyundai Motor added 1.3 percent, and its affiliate Kia Motors rose 0.4 percent. The state-run power supplier Korea Electric Power Corp. gained 0.8 percent, and leading cosmetics maker Amore Pacific climbed 0.5 percent.