South Korean stocks traded 0.36 percent lower late Monday morning, led by losses in shippers an builders, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) slipped 7.04 points to 1,937.52 as of 11:20 a.m.
Hanjin Shipping plunged nearly 8 percent, with logistics firm Hyundai Glovis falling 2.7 percent, as concerns over global economic recovery worsened on lower-than-expected first-quarter growth rate of the United States. No. 1 builder Hyundai Engineering & Construction lost 2 percent.
In contrast, telecom shares trended upwards, with SK Telecom, the largest mobile carrier, climbing more than 3 percent.
The local currency was changing hands at 1,107.45 won against the greenback, up 4.85 won from Friday's close. (Yonhap News)
