Investing.com -- South Korean retail investors sold a record amount of Kospi-listed shares on Friday as July's severe market reversal damaged confidence and prompted criticism of President Lee Jae Myung's government, Bloomberg reported. Trading in index constituents was halted four times during the month, setting a record for circuit-breaker suspensions and illustrating the scale of the volatility. Retail traders had invested approximately 78 trillion won ($54.2 billion) in Kospi shares during May and June, encouraged by the government's market-reform campaign and the launch of single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds. Those products offered amplified exposure to individual companies but have been blamed for worsening market swings as leveraged investors rushed to exit concentrated positions. Related articlesSouth Korean retail investors retreat after Kospi's record volatilityHow will adjustment in Japanese stocks impact the USD/JPY?