FX.co ★ Korean Won Falls on Weaker FX Sentiment

The South Korean won has declined to approximately 1,472 per dollar, nearing a seven-month low, as continuous capital outflows persist due to domestic investors bolstering their holdings in overseas equities. This quarter, the currency has depreciated by about 5% against the dollar, edging closer to its lowest point in 16 years, underscoring ongoing pressures in the foreign exchange market. Investor apprehension has intensified as import prices surged in November, registering a 2.6% month-on-month increase – the fastest pace in 19 months – up from 1.9% in October. This rise reflects the weaker won's impact on import costs. In response to these conditions, central bank board member Kim Jong-hwa cautioned that exporters lacking sufficient currency hedges and smaller businesses unable to transfer higher import costs face considerable difficulties. On a more optimistic note, concerns were somewhat alleviated by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which highlighted a recovering economy. Their monthly Green Book reported three consecutive months of improvements in both consumption and exports.