South Korean stocks traded 1.12 percent lower late Thursday morning on the rising concerns over a possible reduction in the U.S. quantitative easing moves, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 21.33 points to 1,888.58 as of 11:20 a.m. It marked the first time for the index to hover below the 1,900 mark since April 14.
Tech shares traded lower, with market behemoth Samsung Electronics falling 1.16 percent and its smaller domestic rival LG Electronics moving down 1.99 percent. Top chipmaker SK hynix shed 2.01 percent.
Builders also traded bearish, with Hyundai Engineering & Construction losing 0.99 percent and Daewoo Engineering & Construction falling 1.42 percent. Top steelmaker POSCO declined 0.79 percent.
The local currency was changing hands at 1,134.65 won against the greenback as of 11:20 a.m., down 1.05 won from Wednesday's close. (Yonhap News)
