South Korean stocks opened lower Tuesday due to losses in blue-chip shares as crude oil prices touched their lowest level in more than a decade because of pressure from oversupply. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 3.36 points, or 0.17 percent, to 1,978.83 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Market heavyweights lost ground across the board.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 0.47 percent, and top automaker Hyundai Motor slipped 0.66 percent.

Korea Aerospace Industries, South Korea's sole aircraft maker, rose 2.31 percent following a sharp loss in the previous session over a deadly jet trainer crash in Indonesia on Sunday. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

The local currency was trading at 1,177.2 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up 0.4 won from Monday's close. (Yonhap)