South Korean stocks traded 0.32 percent higher late Friday morning, tracking overnight gains in Wall Street, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) advanced 6.04 points to 1,913.93 as of 11:15 a.m.
Utility and tech shares led the market gain, while telecom and financial stocks suffered losses.
Market leader Samsung Electronics rose 0.71 percent, and SK hynix rose 1.68 percent. Naver, the country's top Internet portal operator, also gained 0.27 percent.
Korea Electric Power climbed 2.83 percent and Korea Gas rose 1.86 percent.
Foreign investors turned net buyers, while institutional and retail investors dumped shares.
The local currency was trading at 1,075.75 against the U.S. dollar as of 11:15 a.m., up 3.30 won from Thursday's close.