The USD-KRW exchange rate for November 24 was KRW 1,477.1 to USD 1, with the Korean won falling to its lowest point in the seven months since April 9. Analysts noted that in 2026, the exchange rate could rise to KRW 1,540 to USD 1, because of an increase in South Korean investors investing directly into the US stock market as well as greater US-bound investment by large South Korean companies.
Finance Minister Gu Yun-cheol 구윤철 기획재정부 장관 pledged “decisive measures” to stabilize the exchange rate by having the National Pension Service 국민연금 partially liquidate its US-based holdings to inject dollars into the Korean financial system.
The government also increased its budget for issuing dollar-denominated bonds to USD 5b, the largest allocation since its response to the aftermath of the global financial crisis in 2009. Backed by the budget, the Export-Import Bank of Korea 수출입은행 is working to issue USD 3b worth of dollar-denominated bonds to stabilize the exchange rate by attracting USD investments to Korea.
