South Korean stocks traded 0.2 percent lower late Thursday morning, led by losses in autos and builders, analysts said.
   
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 3.78 points to 1,931.80 as of 11:20 a.m.
   
Carmakers traded lower, with No. 1 player Hyundai Motor falling 2.99 percent and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors losing 0.38 percent. Top auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis shed 3.04 percent.
   
Construction firms also lost ground, with Hyundai Engineering & Construction decreasing 6.8 percent and GS Engineering & Construction plunging to its daily permissible limit of 14.98 percent.
   
The local currency was changing hands at 1,130.05 won against the greenback, up 5.65 won from Wednesday's close.  (Yonhap News)