South Korean shares opened higher Friday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 13.66 points, or 0.72 percent, to 1,913.67 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

The Dow Jones industrial average added 227.64 points, or 1.41 percent, to 16,379.05 on Thursday.

Most market heavyweights opened in positive terrain.

Tech giant Samsung Electronics advanced 0.7 percent, with top cosmetics maker Amore Pacific gaining 1.02 percent.

No. 1 automaker Hyundai Motor shed 0.35 percent, while its smaller affiliate Kia Motors edged up 0.2 percent.

The South Korean won gained ground against the U.S. dollar after dipping to the lowest level since July 19, 2010, in the previous session.

The local currency was trading at 1,207.55 won against the U.S. dollar, up 5.85 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)