South Korean stocks traded 0.37 percent higher late Monday morning following the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to keep its current bond-purchasing program in place, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 7.45 points to 2,013.03 as of 11:20 a.m.
Shipbuilders traded higher, with Hyundai Heavy Industries rising 2.5 percent and Samsung Heavy Industries moving up 2.47 percent. Top auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis gained 1.71 percent.
Builders also traded bullish, with Hyundai Engineering & Construction adding 0.77 percent and Daelim Industrial climbing 0.98 percent. Daewoo Engineering & Construction advanced 2.76 percent.
The local currency was changing hands at 1,075.35 won against the greenback as of 11:20 a.m., up 8.75 won from Tuesday's close.
The Seoul bourse has been closed for three days since Wednesday for the Chuseok holiday, the national harvest celebration. (Yonhap news)
