South Korean stocks traded almost flat late Friday morning amid abated woes over the eurozone's economic stimulus moves and Samsung Electronics' lower-than-expected earnings report, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 0.72 points, or 0.04 percent, to 1,839.86 as of 11:20 a.m.

Carmakers traded bullish, with No. 1 player Hyundai Motor moving up 0.23 percent and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors adding 2.04 percent.

Retailers also traded higher, with Hyundai Merchant Marine advancing 2.31 percent and CJ Korea Express climbing 0.71 percent. Leading air carrier Korean Air increased 0.17 percent.

In contrast, market behemoth Samsung Electronics shed 2.96 percent after the firm said it had posted a record quarterly operating profit of 9.5 trillion won ($8.36 billion) in the second quarter of this year.

The local currency was changing hands at 1,141.50 won against the U.S. dollar, down 2.10 won from Thursday's close. (Yonhap News)