Korean shares ended lower Monday, as institutional investors opted to lock in recent gains and the world's oil-producing countries failed to reach an agreement on output freeze.

But foreigners stemmed a sharper loss by staying in a buying position. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar. 

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) slipped 5.61 points, or 0.28 percent, to 2,009.10. Trade volume stood at 334.76 million shares worth 4.25 trillion won ($3.7 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 481 to 333.

Institutions and individuals sold a combined 186 billion won worth of domestic shares, while foreigners purchased a net 200 billion won to support the main index remaining above 2,000.

Looking ahead, investors will take a more cautious stance before the planned earnings announcements by major exporters in coming weeks amid falling oil prices, analysts said.

"Investors may sell some large-cap stocks later this month on profit taking as the exporters are likely to report weaker-than-expected earnings results for the January-March period," Daishin Securities analyst Lee Kyoung-min said.

On Monday, energy stocks extended their losses after the world's largest oil-producing countries failed to reach an agreement to freeze output. Among other decliners were financial, steel and construction stocks.

Bellwether Samsung Electronics fell 0.08 percent to 1,299,000 won. State-run utility Korea Gas Corp. declined 1.26 percent to 39,100 won. Industry leader Samsung Life Insurance also plunged 9.09 percent to 110,000 won, and builder Samsung C&T was down 1.75 percent to 140,000 won.

Helping the main index stay above the psychologically important 2,000 level, auto and tire stocks advanced on temporary shutdowns and suspended operations of carmakers and tiremakers in Japan following earthquakes there last week. 

Top carmaker Hyundai Motor rose 1.65 percent to 154,000 won. Hyundai Mobis, the country's biggest auto parts company, gained 0.62 percent to 242,500 won; and Hankook Tire, the nation's largest tire maker, climbed 1.70 percent to 53,900 won.  

The KOSPI ended 0.06 percent lower on Friday after soaring 1.75 percent to its highest this year at 2,015.93 points on Thursday on the back of China's strong trade data.

Korea's won was last traded at 1,150.20 against the U.S. dollar, down 4.00 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)