Seoul: South Korean stocks expanded losses late Monday morning due mainly to technology and chemical shares. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index had fallen 20.42 points, or 0.8 percent, to 2,540.73 as of 11:20 a.m. According to Yonhap News Agency, top tech giant Samsung Electronics plunged 2.46 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix slid 2.79 percent. Meanwhile, top battery maker LG Energy Solution shot up 5.9 percent, while Samsung SDI slid 2.81 percent. Chemical shares traded weaker as well, with top oil refiner SK Innovation falling 1.17 percent and cosmetics giant Amorepacific losing 6.01 percent. The local currency was trading at 1,395.5 won against the U.S. dollar as of 11:20 a.m., down 9.1 won from the previous session.