South Korean stocks closed lower Friday as investors sat on the sidelines ahead of monetary policy meetings of the U.S. and Japan later this month, analysts said. The Korean won closed higher against the greenback. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 12.84 points, or 0.66 percent, to 1,944.48. Trading volume was low at 252.7 million shares worth 3.13 trillion won (US$2.95 billion), with losers outpacing gainers 428 to 347.