South Korea’s foreign exchange reserves slipped to USD 425.91 billion in January 2026, down from USD 428.05 billion in December 2025, according to data updated on 3 February 2026. The modest decline highlights a slight drawdown in the country’s currency buffers at the start of the year.
The January figure suggests that South Korea continues to maintain a substantial reserve position, even as the total edged lower month-on-month. While the data do not specify the drivers of the change, shifts of this size can reflect routine valuation effects, portfolio adjustments, or limited market operations rather than a structural weakening in reserve strength.
