South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Friday as investor sentiment was cheered by the government's economic stimulus unveiled the previous day, which included a possible extra budget worth 10 trillion won (US$89.8 billion), analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) jumped 16.31 points, or 0.82 percent, to 2,009.83 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Shares gathered ground across the board, with builders and brokerage houses leading the rise. No. 1 player Hyundai Engineering & Construction gained 1.3 percent, with KDB Daewoo Securities shooting up more than 2 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,111.30 won against the U.S. dollar, up 1.4 won from Thursday's close. (Yonhap news)