Kospi drops 1.32% as investors lock in profits

Screens in Hana Bank's trading room in central Seoul show stock markets open on Monday. [NEWS1]

Stocks started lower Monday as investors locked in profits following a surge in the previous session.

The Kospi dropped 1.32 percent, or 34.56 points, to 2,580.75 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Samsung Electronics sank 1.46 percent and LG Electronics declined 0.51 percent.

Bio shares also traded weaker, with Samsung Biologics decreasing 0.23 percent and Celltrion retreating 0.98 percent.

Mobile carriers and game publishers were also in negative territory, with SK Telecom falling 0.6 percent and NCSOFT dipping 0.74 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,338.05 won against the dollar, up 15.45 won from the previous session's close.

BY LEE SOO-JUNG, YONHAP [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]