The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) finished up 0.07 percent at 1981.89 points. The KOSPI's turnover stood at 3.2 trillion Korean won ($2.98 billion) on Monday, the lowest since June 28 this year, according to Reuters data. The stock market will be closed for Christmas on Tuesday. "With a dearth of good news, shares will undergo corrections in the final week of this year, albeit within a limited range" said Park Hyeong-joong, an analyst at Meritz Securities.
"A chance is growing that the US fiscal issue will not be resolved by this year-end," Park said. The Japanese yen resumed falls and neared a 20-month low versus the dollar on Monday after incoming premier Shinzo Abe renewed pressure on the Bank of Japan to adopt a 2 percent inflation target. A weaker yen makes Japanese goods cheaper in export markets where South Korean companies compete.
Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors finished flat.