South Korean stocks traded 0.82 percent lower late Monday morning, dented by losses in large-cap exporters, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) slid 15.81 points to 1,908.42 as of 11:20 a.m.
Shares of top-cap Samsung Electronics lost 0.53 percent, with flat panel giant LG Display dipping more than 2 percent.
Local blue-chip zinc smelter Korea Zinc plunged 13 percent on a market forecast of gloomy quarterly results.
In contrast, telecom shares gained ground, with No. 1 mobile carrier SK Telecom jumping nearly 5 percent.
The local currency was changing hands at 1,125.50 won against the greenback as of 11:20 a.m., up 2.6 won from Friday's close. (Yonhap News)
