South Korean stocks opened higher Tuesday, led by gains in tech firms and automakers.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 2.39 points, or 0.11 percent, to 2,176.13 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Most large caps traded higher, with market kingpin Samsung Electronics adding 1.12 percent and SK hynix, a major chipmaker, remaining flat.

Hyundai Motor, the No. 1 automaker, moved up 1.06 percent, while AmorePacific, the country's top cosmetics maker, shed 2.91 percent following weaker-than-expected earnings.

The local currency was trading at 1,133.70 won against the US dollar, down 3.8 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)