South Korean stocks traded 0.9 percent lower late Wednesday morning, as large-cap tech firms and steelmakers widened their losses, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) declined 18 points to 1,977.48 as of 11:20 a.m.
Chip giant SK hynix shed 1.1 percent and Hyundai Steel fell 2.7 percent.
But domestic-focused shares rose. State-run Korea Electric Power Corp. shot up more than 2 percent, with top mobile carrier SK Telecom advancing 0.5 percent.
The local currency was changing hands at 1,072.85 won against the greenback as of 11:20 a.m. down 1.55 won from Tuesday's close. (Yonhap News)
