South Korean stocks traded 0.37 percent higher late Friday morning, led by gains in share of financial firms and insurance companies, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 7.28 points to 1,981.55 as of 11:20 a.m.

No. 1 life insurer Samsung Life Insurance surged nearly 5 percent, with major financial firm Woori Finance Holdings jumping more than 4 percent.

In contrast, tech and auto blue-chips lost ground. Top-cap Samsung Electronics edged down 0.3 percent and Kia Motors slid around 1.5 percent.

The local currency was changing hands at 1,055.85 won against the greenback, up 2.4 won from Thursday's close. (Yonhap News)