South Korean stocks opened lower Wednesday as investors continued to take a breather ahead of the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee slated for Dec. 17-18, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) edged down 2.43 points, or 0.12 percent, to 1,991.02 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Tech shares traded mixed, with No. 1 Samsung Electronics falling 0.28 percent, while its smaller rival LG Electronics added 1.04 percent. Top chipmaker SK hynix advanced 1.23 percent.

Shipbuilders opened bearish, with Hyundai Heavy Industries moving down 0.58 percent and Samsung Heavy Industries losing 0.79 percent. Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering shed 0.29 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,051.60 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up 0.60 won from Tuesday's close. (Yonhap News)