Dr. Park Jong-seok, a psychiatrist treating financial distress, said novice retail investors are experiencing the recent KOSPI plunge as a shock comparable to being stabbed or surviving an earthquake. Park said Wednesday evening in a telephone interview with CBS Radio's "Park Jae-hong's Hanpan Seungbu" that the number of patients seeking help for trading-related distress more than doubled compared to the previous week. He added that the average financial losses reported by patients more than tripled. The remarks come as fear grips the markets, with the Korea Exchange triggering marketwide circuit breakers — temporary trading halts — for both the KOSPI and Kosdaq on consecutive days, Tuesday and Wednesday. On Wednesday, the KOSPI dropped to the 5,200 level during intraday trading before closing down 360.42 points, or 5.98 percent, at 5,663.24. The psychiatrist said novice investors who entered the market during a rally can experience even greater fear. "Because they have never experienced a market crash, these investors haven't built up any immunity to it," he said "They tend to suffe