Korean stocks opened lower Thursday, tracking an overnight decline on Wall Street caused by growing uncertainties about Europe's fiscal woes, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) dropped 1.72 percent, or 31.73 points, to 1,813.13 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 1.96 percent with top automaker Hyundai Motor also giving up 1.85 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,185.15 won to the greenback as of 9:15 a.m., down 8.85 won from Wednesday's close. (Yonhap)