South Korean stocks traded 0.8 percent lower late Thursday morning, dented by losses in foodmakers and brokerage houses, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 14.86 points to 1,852.60 as of 11:20 a.m.
Major brokerage firm KDB Securities Co. dipped more than 2 percent, and CJ Cheiljedang, a food manufacturing giant, slumped 3.1 percent.
In contrast, defensive shares gained, with state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. climbing 2 percent.
The local currency was changing hands at 1,124.35 won against the greenback as of 11:20 a.m., down 6.95 won from Wednesday's close. (Yonhap News)
