South Korean stocks started off with a gain Monday on the back of tech companies like Samsung Electronics, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 2.6 points, or 0.13 percent, to 1,948.74 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Market leader Samsung Electronics rose 0.62 percent, and its smaller rival SK hynix climbed up 1.65 percent. 

The local currency was trading at 1,055.45 against the U.S. dollar as of 9:21 a.m., down 0.25 won from Friday's close. (Yonhap News)