South Korean stocks opened a tad higher Wednesday, as large-cap financial companies drove up the main index amid concerns over exporters feared to suffer from yen weakness, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 2.15 points, or 0.13 percent, to trade at 1,971.34 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Samsung Life Insurance, the sixth-largest listed firm by market cap, rose 0.5 percent, with No. 4 banking firm Shinhan Financial Group soaring more than 2 percent.

In contrast, tech blue-chips lost ground. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics fell 0.3 percent and steelmaker POSCO dropped 0.3 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,113.95 won against the U.S. dollar, down 7.35 won from Tuesday's close. (Yonhap News)