Seoul: South Korean stocks traded lower late Tuesday morning as investors moved to cash in recent gains in technology and brokerage shares following a 12-session rally that pushed the benchmark above the 4,900 mark a day earlier. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 22.17 points, or 0.45 percent, to 4,882.49 as of 11:20 a.m.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the index had opened lower before briefly turning higher; however, it later reversed course and extended losses. Most large-cap shares traded lower. Semiconductor shares, a main driver of the KOSPI's recent rally, traded weak as Samsung Electronics went down 2.61 percent and its rival SK hynix fell 2.88 percent.

Auto shares traded mixed. Industry leader Hyundai Motor was up 0.83 percent, while its affiliate Kia lost 1 percent. In contrast, leading battery maker LG Energy Solution gained 0.5 percent. The local currency was trading at 1,478.15 won against the greenback at 11:20 a.m., down 4.45 won from the previous session.