South Korean stocks opened higher Tuesday, with most market heavyweights remaining in positive terrain.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 8.71 points, or 0.41 percent, to 2,125.30 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

On Monday, the KOSPI closed at an almost two-year high on the back of continued foreign buying.

Most large caps traded higher, with market kingpin Samsung Electronics rising 0.05 percent.

POSCO, the country's leading steelmaker, rose 0.89 percent, and Hyundai Motor, the No. 1 automaker, advanced 0.68 percent.

SK Telecom soared 1.43 percent, and AmorePacific, the cosmetics maker, climbed 0.9 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,148.20 won against the US dollar, down 3.8 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)