South Korean stocks traded 0.8 percent higher late Tuesday morning, recovering from the previous session's plunge triggered by China's stock rout.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 4.81 points to 1,933.57 as of 11:20 a.m.

Tech firms led the overall market gain.

Top market cap Samsung Electronics gained 0.17 percent, and global chipmaker SK Hynix rose 2.65 percent.

In contrast, No. 1 automaker Hyundai Motor remained unchanged, and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors went down 0.2 percent.

On Monday, China's stock market plunged nearly 7 percent, hitting the lowest level in nearly three months on renewed concerns over a slowdown in the world's No. 2 economy.

U.S. stocks dropped 1.58 percent on Monday amid concerns over a slowdown in China and rising tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The tech-laden Nasdaq Composite also shed 2.08 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,186.40 won against the U.S. dollar as of 11:20 a.m., up 1.1 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)