South Korean shares traded higher late Wednesday morning, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street after Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen voiced a positive outlook of the world's largest economy.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 8.91 points, or 0.43 percent, to 2,083.43 as of 11:20 a.m.
Large caps traded mixed with market kingpin Samsung Electronics falling 0.8 percent, and global chipmaker SK hynix down 0.62 percent.
In contrast, top automaker Hyundai Motor rose 2.5 percent, and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors traded 0.95 percent higher.
POSCO, the No.1 steelmaker, advanced 0.88 percent.
Naver, the operator of the country's top Internet portal, rose 0.26 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,143.00 won against the U.S. dollar, down 5.4 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)