South Korean stocks closed 2.2 percent lower Thursday, the first trading day of the new year, as tech shares and automakers lost ground amid the yen's weakness, analysts said. The local currency rose against the U.S. dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) declined 44.15 points to 1,967.19. Trading volume was moderate at 204.4 million shares worth 4.22 trillion won (US$4.02 billion) with losers outpacing gainers 546 to 252.