The benchmark KOSPI added 14.24 points or 0.2 percent, to 7,490.18 in early trade.
SK hynix fell 3.1 percent to 2,113,000 won (US$1,408.10), giving back part of the run-up into its American depositary receipt (ADR) listing, which raised $26.5 billion in the largest-ever U.S. listing by a foreign company and closed 13 percent above the $149 offer price.
Traders attributed the domestic decline to profit-taking after the Nasdaq listing, with SK Square, the chipmaker's largest shareholder, falling 5.3 percent to 1,334,000 won ($889.00).
But Samsung Electronics moved the other way, rising 1.4 percent to 289,000 won ($192.60).
Institutions bought a net 30.6 billion won of KOSPI shares and foreigners a net 4.3 billion won, against 34.3 billion won of net selling by individuals.
The junior KOSDAQ jumped 3.2 percent to 864.30, led by small-cap gains across seasonal and thematic names.
Elsewhere on the main board, LG Energy Solution climbed 3.5 percent to 337,500 won ($224.90) and Hanwha Aerospace rose 3.6 percent to 1,002,000 won ($667.70), while Samsung Electro-Mechanics dropped 5.2 percent to 1,502,000 won ($1,000.90).
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 opened 0.5 percent higher at 68,907.38.
The won traded at 1,500.60 per dollar, marginally stronger than in the previous session.
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