South Korean stocks closed 1.56 percent lower Monday as investors were rattled by market uneasiness in some emerging countries from tapering of U.S. quantitative easing, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) declined 30.22 points to 1,910.34. Trading volume was moderate at 336.3 million shares worth 4.32 trillion won (US$3.99 billion), with losers outpacing gainers 693 to 140.