South Korean stocks inched 0.23 percent up on Wednesday as European optimism boosted investor sentiment but they contined to remain cautious about the region\'s worsening debt crisis, analysts said. The local currency rose against the U.S. dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 4.39 points to 1,907.53. Trading volume was moderate at 414.3 million shares worth 5.47 trillion won (US$4.9 billion), with losers leading gainers 416 to 395.