Korean shares traded lower late Monday morning, but pared earlier losses on the back of foreign buying.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 0.33 point, or 0.02 percent, to 2,016.93 as of 11:20 a.m.

Large caps traded mixed with market kingpin Samsung Electronics adding 0.53 percent, and global chipmaker SK hynix up 0.46 percent.

AmorePacific, the largest cosmetics maker, dipped 0.59 percent.

In contrast, top automaker Hyundai Motor fell 0.75 percent, and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors traded 1.07 percent lower.

POSCO, the No.1 steelmaker, advanced 1.11 percent.

Naver, the operator of the country's top Internet portal, rose 0.98 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,134.45 won against the U.S. dollar, down 0.85 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)