Korean stocks traded 0.18 percent lower late Wednesday morning, led by techs and retailers, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 3.41 points to 1,860.65 as of 11:20 a.m.
After bobbing in and out of negative territory, shares pared losses from earlier trading as autos and financials picked up.
No. 3 lender Shinhan Financial gained 1 percent and top automaker Hyundai Motor edged up 0.7 percent. However, top-cap Samsung Electronics slid 1.5 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,159.75 won against the greenback as of 11:20 a.m., down 5.7 won from Tuesday's close. (Yonhap)