Seoul shares open lower on eurozone woes

South Korean stocks got off to a weak start Tuesday as political uncertainties over the eurozone dented investor sentiment here, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 15.57 points, or 0.8 percent, to trade at 1937.64 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Shares lost ground across the board, with market bellwether Samsung Electronics falling 1.18 percent and chipmaker SK hynix losing 1.23 percent. Flat panel giant LG Display shed 1.6 percent.

Shipbuilders also traded lower, with No. 1 player Hyundai Heavy Industries moving down 1.41 percent and Samsung Heavy Industries decreasing 1.48 percent. Top steelmaker POSCO shed 0.97 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,088.35 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., down 3.75 won from Monday's close. (Yonhap News)