Korean stocks opened higher Tuesday as China's pledge to boost growth fueled Wall Street and European market gains, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), which pulled off a modest rebound on Monday following last week's sharp losses, added 1.02 percent, or 18.27 points, to 1,817.40 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics soared 3.06 percent with top automaker Hyundai Motor also jumping 1.27 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,163.45 won to the greenback as of 9:15 a.m., up 5.45 won from Monday's close.