South Korean stocks traded 0.13 percent lower late Wednesday morning amid rising woes over possible military action by the United States in Syria, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 2.42 points to 1,931.32 as of 11:20 a.m.

Tech blue chips continued to trade lower, with Samsung Electronics falling 0.6 percent and flat panel maker LG Display losing 1.89 percent. Samsung Electro-Mechanics, a local industrial parts maker, shed 0.61 percent.

Retailers also traded lower, with E-mart moving down 2.12 percent and Hyundai Department Store losing 1.28 percent. Daewoo International, a leading South Korean trading company, shed 0.56 percent.

The local currency was changing hands at 1,099.90 won against the greenback as of 11:20 a.m., down 2.00 won from Tuesday's close. (Yonhap news)