South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Monday driven by optimism that European leaders will take practical actions to save the euro, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 19.08 points, or 1.04 percent to 1,848.24 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Shares gathered ground across the board, with top-cap Samsung Electronics jumping 2.35 percent and leading carmaker Hyundai Motor rising 1.97 percent.

In a brief telephone meeting on Saturday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italy's Premier Mario Monti agreed to do everything to protect the eurozone and take all necessary measures, raising hopes for a possible bailout by the European Central Bank.

The local currency was trading at 1,134.5 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up 3.4 won from Friday's close. (Yonhap News)