South Korean stocks traded 0.7 percent higher late Tuesday morning, as blue-chip shipyards and shipping firms widened gains, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) advanced 13.56 points to 1,974.71 as of 11:20 a.m.
Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world's largest shipyard, soared nearly 4 percent, with Hyundai Merchant Marine, a major shipping line, rising more than 2 percent.
In contrast, state-run companies and builders lost ground.
Korea Gas tumbled over 6 percent, and Daewoo Engineering & Construction plunged 8 percent.
The local currency was changing hands at 1,051.75 won against the greenback as of 11:20 a.m., down 0.25 won from Monday's close (Yonhap News)
