South Korean stocks opened lower Tuesday as poor U.S. data stoked growing concerns about a lackluster recovery, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 0.41 percent, or 7.96 points, to 1,932.06 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Most shares traded in negative territory, with market bellwether Samsung Electronics falling 0.7 percent and top air carrier Korean Air dipping 0.23 percent.
The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 0.46 percent after U.S. manufacturing activity hit a three-year low in November.
The local currency was trading at 1,084.15 won to the greenback as of 9:15 a.m., down 1.05 won from Monday's close. (Yonhap News)
