South Korean stocks traded 1.21 percent higher late Friday morning, as an improved outlook over the global economy boosted investors' sentiment, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 22.33 points to 1,871.45 as of 11:20 a.m.

Blue-chip shares continued to gather ground, with market behemoth Samsung Electronics rising 2.87 percent and Hyundai Motor adding 0.22 percent. Top steelmaker POSCO added 0.47 percent.

Brokerage houses also traded higher, with KDB Daewoo Securities moving up 0.76 percent and Woori Investment & Securities rising 2.35 percent.

The local currency was changing hands at 1,118.50 won against the greenback as of 11:20 a.m., up 4.50 won from Thursday's close. (Yonhap News)