South Korean stocks traded 0.63 percent higher late Thursday morning, led by gains in IT companies and logistics firms, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) jumped 12.42 points to 1,983.68 as of 11:20 a.m.

NHN, the No. 1 Internet portal service provider, spiked more than 7 percent on foreign buying in spite of an unfair trading probe launched by the anti-trust watchdog. Hyundai Merchant Marine, a leading logistics firm, rose more than 8 percent.

In contrast, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, a major shipbuilder, plunged more than 10 percent after it said its first-quarter earnings halved from a year earlier.

The local currency was changing hands at 1,113.95 won against the greenback, up 1.05 won from Wednesday's close. (Yonhap News)