South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Thursday, fueled by gains in large-cap shares, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) climbed 7.68 points, or 0.39 percent, to 1,985.13 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Top-cap Samsung Electronics inched up 0.13 percent, with No. 1 carmaker Hyundai Motor rising 1.6 percent.

In contrast, utilities and textile firms lost ground, with state-run electricity provider Korea Electric Power Corp. sliding nearly 2 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,057.40 won against the U.S. dollar, up 1.3 won from Wednesday's close. (Yonhap News)