South Korean stocks traded 0.03 percent lower late Monday morning, led by losses in large-cap exporters, analysts said.
   
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 0.49 points to 1,944.26 as of 11:20 a.m.
   
Hyundai Motor lost 1.06 percent, with Korea Zinc, a local major zinc smelter slumping nearly 5 percent.
   
In contrast, telecom and construction firms gathered ground. No. 1 mobile carrier SK Telecom surged 5.12 percent and GS Engineering & Construction rose 0.9 percent.
   
The local currency was changing hands at 1,113.15 won against the greenback, down 7.05 won from Friday's close. (Yonhap News)