outh Korean shares opened higher Monday following improved sentiment over recent days on Wall Street.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 7.48 points, or 0.37 percent, to 2,025.42 in the first 15 minutes of trading.


Large caps traded mixed with market kingpin Samsung Electronics gaining 0.19 percent.

Top automaker Hyundai Motor fell 0.38 percent, and major chipmaker SK hynix rose 0.38 percent.

Kia Motors, an affiliate of Hyundai Motor, rose 0.61 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,115.35 won against the U.S. dollar, down 4.95 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)