South Korean stocks opened higher Friday but then fell slightly as a decline in the quarterly output of European nations spurred losses in key local exporters, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) dropped 0.39 points to 1,979.22 as of 9:15 a.m.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics slid 0.6 percent and automaker Hyundai Motor dipped 1.4 percent.
The 17-nation eurozone economy reported on Thursday its gross domestic product declined 0.6 percent on-year in the fourth quarter, the worst since early 2009.
The local currency was trading at 1,081.85 won against the U.S. dollar, up 1.7 won from Thursday's close. (Yonhap News)
