South Korean stocks traded 0.31 percent lower late Wednesday morning due to losses from steelmakers and construction firms.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 6.01 points to 1,960.30 as of 11:20 a.m.

Steelmakers lost ground, with No. 1 POSCO falling 2.06 percent and Korea Zinc sliding 1.07 percent. Hyundai Steel shed 4.49 percent.

Builders traded bearish, with Hyundai Engineering & Construction losing 1.2 percent and Daelim Industrial moving down 0.15 percent. GS Engineering & Construction dropped 1.75 percent.

The local currency was changing hands at 1,171.50 won against the greenback as of 11:20 a.m., down 1.90 won from Tuesday's close. (Yonhap)