South Korean stocks opened higher Thursday on the back of firm gains from technology and auto shares.
  

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index edged up 10.12 points, or 0.5 percent, to 2,019.54 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
  

Tech shares traded higher, with Samsung Electronics advancing 0.15 percent and chipmaker SK hynix moving up 3.61 percent. LG Display rose 2.01 percent.
  

Leading carmaker Hyundai Motor advanced 0.99 percent, while its auto parts arm Hyundai Mobis increased 1.62 percent. Kia Motors edged up 0.93 percent.
  

The local currency was trading at 1,143.70 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., down 0.3 won from Wednesday's close. (Yonhap)