South Korean stocks traded marginally lower late Tuesday morning, led by losses in utilities and insurance companies, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) inched down 0.11 points, or 0.01 percent to 1,950.79 as of 11:20 a.m.

State-run electricity provider Korea Electric Power Corp. slid nearly 2 percent, with No. 1 life insurer Samsung Life Insurance falling 1.2 percent.

In contrast, tech and construction firms gathered ground, with flat panel giant LG Display gaining 1.4 percent and Hyundai Engineering & Construction rising 2.2 percent.

The local currency was changing hands at 1,092.85 won against the greenback, up 2.85 won from Friday's close.

The local stock market was closed on Monday for Lunar New Year's Day. (Yonhap News)