South Korean stocks opened higher Monday on the back of gains in tech firms and carmakers, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 8.03 points, or 0.43 percent, to 1,888.74 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Tech shares gathered ground, with No. 1 player Samsung Electronics adding 0.49 percent and leading chipmaker SK hynix moving up 2.06 percent.

Carmakers also traded higher, with leading Hyundai Motor rising 0.68 percent and its auto-parts affiliate Hyundai Mobis increasing 0.76 percent. Kia Motors climbed 0.67 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,111.45 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up 0.75 won from Friday's close. (Yonhap News)