South Korean stocks started lower Monday, led by losses in tech and construction shares, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 7.31 points, or 0.36 percent, to 2,004.63 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Tech blue chips led the market decline, with top-cap Samsung Electronics falling 1.11 percent and LG Display, the biggest panel supplier for Apple's iPad tablet computer, dipping 2.27 percent.

Top chipmaker SK hynix shed 1.14 percent.

Construction firms also traded lower, with No. 1 builder Hyundai Engineering & Construction losing 0.95 percent and GS Engineering & Construction dropping 1.2 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,061.15 won to the greenback as of 9:15 a.m., up 2.45 won from Friday's close. (Yonhap News)