Exchange Rate in Korea

Korea - Exchange Rate (average of period)
Won sinks to over one-decade low in March, but strong fundamentals should drive a rebound
On 19 March, the Korean won (KRW) ended the day at 1,285 per USD, marking the lowest level since 14 July 2009. The KRW gained back some ground the following day after the government implemented extreme spending measures to prop up the economy and the Bank of Korea announced a bilateral currency swap arrangement with the Federal Reserve. The won consequently ended 24 March slightly stronger at 1,250 per USD; nevertheless, the KRW was still down 2.3% over the prior month, 7.5 % on a year-to-date basis and 9.6% over the same date last year.
Amid the fallout from the Covid-19 outbreak, significantly weaker economic growth prospects for this year, a sharp sell-off in the domestic stock market, monetary easing and a narrowing current account surplus all weighed on the won over the past month. The virus outbreak in Korea dented the economic outlook as quarantine measures and weaker economic activity in China—a key supplier and Korean export destination—shackled the economy and decreased demand for the won. Moreover, the Korean stock market slumped, which put further downward pressure on the won, with circuit breakers being triggered due to the extent of the losses. The virus outbreak has led to major risk re-pricing across all asset classes and raised severe liquidity concerns. Following the U.S. Fed and other major central banks, the Bank of Korea (BOK) thus chopped rates to record lows in mid-March. Furthermore, the current account surplus narrowed to the smallest level since last April in January, which likely also put pressure on the won.
Looking ahead, the recent downward pressure on the KRW should abate. On 19 March, the BOK entered a bilateral currency swap arrangement with the Fed, increasing the supply of U.S. dollars, lowering the supply of KRW and thus helping to prop up the won. Moreover, in recent days, Korea’s containment efforts have proven relatively effective, which should bolster economic prospects going forward. Furthermore, in February merchandise exports expanded for the first time since November 2018, while Korean exports up to 20 March also increased year-on-year at a healthy pace according to data from the customs office. The rebound in exports was mainly the result of a surge in semiconductor exports, boding well for the KRW outlook. In addition, as global economic sentiment sours, investors tend to favor the KRW over other riskier emerging market Asian currencies due to its solid fundamentals.
Our panel sees the KRW strengthening going forward, ending 2020 at KRW 1,184 per USD, and 2021 at 1,142 per USD
Korea - Exchange Rate (aop) Data
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exchange Rate (vs USD, aop) | 1,132 | 1,160 | 1,131 | 1,100 | 1,166 |
Korea Exchange Rate (aop) Chart

Source: Thomson Reuters
Korea Facts
Value | Change | Date | |
---|---|---|---|
Bond Yield | 1.68 | 1.55 % | Dec 31 |
Exchange Rate | 1,156 | 0.21 % | Dec 31 |
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Economic News
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Korea: BOK raises rates in April with governor’s seat empty
April 14, 2022
At its meeting on 14 April, the Bank of Korea (BOK) raised the base rate by 25 basis points to 1.50%.
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Korea: Inflation hits more-than-decade high in March
April 5, 2022
Consumer prices increased 0.72% in March over the previous month, accelerating from the 0.58% rise seen in February.
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Korea: Manufacturing PMI deteriorates in March
April 1, 2022
The S&P Global Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) came in at 51.2 in March, down from February's 53.8.
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Korea: Merchandise exports grow at a more moderate pace in March
April 1, 2022
Merchandise exports jumped 18.2% in annual terms in March (February: +20.7% year-on-year).
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Korea: Industrial output growth moderates in February
March 31, 2022
Industrial output rose 3.9% compared to the same month a year earlier in February in seasonally-adjusted terms, which followed January's 6.6% increase.