Korean shares traded lower late Wednesday morning, but pared part of earlier losses on gains in tech stocks.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 5.32 points, or 0.26 percent, to 2,011.57 as of 11:20 a.m.

Large caps traded mixed with market kingpin Samsung Electronics adding 0.26 percent.

Global chipmaker SK hynix shed 1.54 percent, and POSCO, the country's leading steelmaker, dropped 1.14 percent.

Naver, the operator of the country's top Internet portal, dipped 2.79 percent.

In contrast, top automaker Hyundai Motor gained 0.38 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,140.10 won against the U.S. dollar, down 4.65 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)