South Korean stocks opened higher Tuesday as investors scooped up key exporters amid the eased concerns over the weak Japanese yen, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) increased 4.49 points, or 0.23 percent, to 1,986.92 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Tech blue chips led the gain, with market behemoth Samsung Electronics adding 0.07 percent and top chipmaker SK hynix climbing 0.16 percent. Samsung Techwin, a defense and precision machinery firm, added 0.76 percent.
Carmakers also gathered ground, with No. 1 player Hyundai Motor rising 0.25 percent and its smaller affiliate Kia Motor advancing 0.91 percent. Leading shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries moved up 0.49 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,114.00 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up 2.80 won from Monday's close. (Yonhap News)
