South Korean shares opened higher Wednesday on eased worries over Britain's possible withdrawal from the European Union in Thursday's vote.

New polls showed the referendum remains too close to call early this week but the sentiment is now swinging toward 'remain' and the expectation is getting support, analysts said.


The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 5.93 points, or 0.30 percent, to 1,988.37 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Supporting the broader index, top automaker Hyundai Motor Co. rose 2.17 percent, No. 1 refiner SK Innovation Co. gained 2.17 percent, and leading cosmetics maker AmorePacific Corp. advanced 0.84 percent. 

Bellwether Samsung Electronics Co. fell 0.62 percent, and the state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. declined 0.51 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,154.25 won against the U.S. dollar, up 2.40 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)