South Korean stocks started a whisker higher Wednesday led by gains in large-cap shares like techs and retailers.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 3.11 points, or 0.16 percent, to 1,952.15 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 0.4 percent and chipmaker SK hynix advanced 0.83 percent.
Leading retailer Lotte Shopping jumped 4.22 percent and Shinsegae remained flat.
The local currency was trading at 1,178.45 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up 0.15 won from Tuesday's close. (Yonhap)