South Korean stocks started higher Wednesday on the back of gains in tech and autos, continuing to recover from a brief dip earlier this week from the Paris terrorist attacks.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 4.84 points, or 0.25 percent, to 1,968.42 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Market behemoth Samsung Electronics climbed 1.02 percent, and LG Electronics advanced 0.36 percent. Samsung SDI climbed 1.75 percent.

No. 1 carmaker Hyundai Motor added 1.59 percent, and its sister Kia Motors increased 0.89 percent. Leading auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis rose 2.06 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,171.10 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., down 0.7 won from Tuesday's close. (Yonhap)