Seoul shares open higher on foreign buying

South Korean stocks started higher on Tuesday as foreign investors scooped up shares of local heavyweights, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 4.02 points, or 0.22 percent, to 1,840.15 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics climbed 0.36 percent and its smaller rival LG Electronics rose 0.33 percent.

Shipbuilders also lent support, with the world biggest Hyundai Heavy Industries rising 0.38 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,142.65 won to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., down 1.55 won from Monday's close. (Yonhap News)