South Korean stocks traded 0.63 percent lower late Tuesday morning amid woes that the United States may start tapering its economic stimulus moves earlier than expected, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 12.80 points to 2,017.98 as of 11:20 a.m.
Carmakers traded lower, with No. 1 Hyundai Motor falling 4.21 percent and top auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis decreasing 3.53 percent. Kia Motors shed 4.87 percent.
Brokerage houses also lost ground, with Samsung Securities moving down 0.11 percent and KDB Daewoo Securities losing 1.63 percent. Woori Investment & Securities edged down 1.44 percent.
The local currency was changing hands at 1,061.25 won against the greenback as of 11:20 a.m., down 4.05 won from Monday's close. (Yonhap News)
