South Korean stocks traded 0.22 percent higher late Thursday morning, led by gains in blue-chip tech firms, analysts said.
   
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 4.33 points to 2,005.53 as of 11:20 a.m.    

Top-cap tech heavyweight Samsung Electronics soared nearly 2 percent, with flat panel giant LG Display shooting up 2.5 percent.  

In contrast, domestic-focused telecom shares trended in negative territory. No. 1 mobile carrier SK Telecom fell 2.6 percent and smallest player LG Uplus tumbled more than 5 percent.
   

The local currency was changing hands at 1,129.20 won against the greenback, up 3.7 won from Wednesday's close. (Yonhap News)