South Korean stocks got off to a weak start Monday as investors sentiment was spooked by the sharp fall in oil prices and last week's drop in U.S. stocks.
  

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index tumbled 26.45 points, or 1.36 percent, to 1,922.17 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
  

Stocks fell across the board, with tech firms and chemicals leading the losses.
  

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics dropped more than 1 percent, and chipmaker SK Hynix sank 3.02 percent. Amore Pacific, the No. 1 cosmetics maker, declined 1.12 percent, and top refiner SK Innovation retreated 0.78 percent.
  

The local currency was trading at 1,187.65 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., down 8.15 won from Friday's close. (Yonhap)