SEOUL: South Korea's financial markets will start trading an hour later than usual on November 15 due to the nationwide college entrance exam, the bourse operator said Monday.

Trading on the main KOSPI and secondary KOSDAQ stock markets, as well as the bond market, will begin at 10 am and close at 4:30 pm, the Korea Exchange (KRX) said in a release.

The country's foreign exchange market will start trading an hour later at 10 a.m. but close at 3:45 p.m. as usual, it noted.

More than 590,000 high school seniors and graduates will take the one-day standardized College Scholastic Ability Test, which is scheduled to be administrated next week across the country, according to the education ministry.