South Korean stocks traded 0.83 percent lower late Friday morning, dented by losses in large-cap shipyard and chemical companies, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 16.91 points to 2,029.78 as of 11:20 a.m.
Blue-chip shipyard and chemical makers lost ground. Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world's biggest shipyard, slumped more than 3 percent, with LG Chem dipping 2.6 percent.
But auto shares trended bullish. Hyundai Motor was up nearly 2 percent, with its auto parts-making affiliate Hyundai Mobis jumping 3 percent.
The local currency was changing hands at 1,062.70 won against the greenback as of 11:20 a.m., down 1.7 won from Thursday's close. (Yonhap News)
