South Korean stocks started lower on Monday, dragged down by losses in tech shares, after the U.S. Federal Reserve's reference to growth concerns in China last week, analysts said.
  

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 17.24 points, or 0.86 percent, to 1,978.71 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
  

Last week, the Federal Open Market Committee kept its interest rate flat. But Fed chief Janet Yellen noted that the committee will keep tabs on the ongoing worries facing emerging markets, such as China, the world's No. 2 economy.
  

Techs started off bearish, with handset giant Samsung Electronics losing 1.93 percent and top chipmaker SK hynix dropping 2.1 percent. Flat screen maker LG Display also slipped 1.22 percent.
  

Other large cap shares were also trading in negative territory, with cosmetics firm AmorePacific stepping down 1.21 percent and Samsung C&T withdrawing 0.94 percent.
  

The local currency was trading at 1,171.85 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., down 9.05 won from Friday's close. (Yonhap)