South Korean stocks traded 0.85 percent lower late Wednesday morning on losses in technology firms and mobile carriers, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 17.15 points to 1,992.21 as of 11:20 a.m.

Tech shares continued to trade mostly lower, with market behemoth Samsung Electronics falling 1.3 percent and flat panel maker LG Display losing 2.1 percent. Top chipmaker SK hynix, in contrast, gained 0.43 percent.

Mobile carriers traded bearish, with SK Telecom moving down 1.09 percent and No. 2 player KT decreasing 0.32 percent. LG Uplus, the smallest player, shed 4.29 percent.

The local currency was changing hands at 1,061.15 won against the greenback as of 11:20 a.m., up 0.05 won from Tuesday's close. (Yonhap News)