South Korean stocks began higher Thursday on the back of gains in blue chip exporters, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 0.26 percent, or 5.07 points, to 1941.26 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Blue chip exporters led the overall gain, with market behemoth Samsung Electronics

climbing 0.28 percent and No. 1 carmaker Hyundai Motor adding 0.75 percent. Top chipmaker SK hynix also advanced 1.02 percent.

Logistics shares also gathered ground, with Hyundai Glovis increasing 1.75 percent, and Hyundai Merchant Marine moving up 0.78 percent. CJ Korea Express added 0.43 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1089.45 won to the greenback as of 9:15 a.m., down 1.35 won from Wednesday's close. (Yonhap News)