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

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index moved up 4.42 points, or 0.23 percent, to 1953.68 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Carmakers traded higher, with Hyundai Motor adding 0.59 percent and its smaller sister Kia Motors climbing 0.33 percent. Its auto parts arm Hyundai Mobis added 1.41 percent.

Shipbuilders also opened higher, with Hyundai Heavy Industries adding 5.31 percent and Samsung Heavy Industries rising 2.79 percent. Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering increased 5.13 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,100.15 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., down 6.65 won from Friday's close. (Yonhap)