South Korean Won (KRW) Exchange Rates Today
Live rates, 30-day trends, and real talk about what banks charge you for South Korean Won.
Mid-market rate - no bank markup 200+ currencies Free
What is the South Korean Won?
South Korea is home to major tech and semiconductor firms, so KRW is sensitive to global tech demand and chip export data.
Symbol: ₩ ISO code: KRW Central bank: Bank of Korea (BOK)
BIS ranking: 11th most traded (the 11th most bought and sold currency worldwide) Used in: South Korea
This page is a hub for all KRW exchange rates on our site. Use the converter above to check the current mid-market rate for South Korean Won against any supported currency, or scroll down to browse individual pair pages with 30-day charts, historical data, and conversion tables.
How South Korean Won is commonly exchanged
The South Korean Won is driven by semiconductor and electronics export demand - Korea is home to Samsung and SK Hynix. USD/KRW is the dominant pair. Foreign investor flows into Korean equities also create significant conversion demand. KRW is not freely deliverable offshore, so most international trades settle in USD.
Most KRW conversions pass through one of the major pairs listed below. For less common combinations, rates are computed as cross-rates through USD or EUR, which may carry a slightly wider spread.
Practical notes for South Korean Won
Travel and card conversions
If you are spending in South Korean Won, a card with no foreign transaction fee is typically the best option. Always choose to be charged in KRW (the local currency) at point of sale - selecting your home currency triggers Dynamic Currency Conversion, which adds an unnecessary 3-6% markup to your transaction.
Bank spreads
As a less liquid currency, KRW spreads at banks and exchanges tend to be wider than for major currencies - sometimes 4-6% at banks and up to 15% at airport counters. Online transfer services usually offer much tighter spreads for KRW.
The Bank of Korea (BOK) and the South Korean Won
The Bank of Korea (BOK) targets 2% inflation and sets the base rate roughly eight times per year.
Policy tool: The base rate. The BOK also monitors capital flows closely and can impose macroprudential measures on foreign exchange positions.
Key data releases: Korean export data (first 20 days, released monthly), CPI, and semiconductor industry indicators.
Moments that shaped the South Korean Won
IMF bailout (1997)
During the Asian Financial Crisis, South Korea required a $58 billion IMF bailout - the largest at the time. The won fell from about 900 to over 1,700 per USD. Citizens famously donated personal gold to help pay down the national debt. Source: IMF
Did you know?
- South Korean won banknotes feature prominent scholars and cultural figures rather than political leaders. The 50,000 won note features Shin Saimdang, a 16th-century artist.
Frequently asked questions
What is the KRW exchange rate today?
The live mid-market rate is shown in the converter above. It updates every 60 seconds during market hours (Sunday 5pm ET through Friday 5pm ET). Scroll down to see KRW rates against all supported currencies.
What is the mid-market rate for South Korean Won?
The mid-market rate is the midpoint between wholesale buy and sell prices - the fairest benchmark before any provider adds markup. It is the rate shown on this page. Your bank or service will offer a different rate that includes their margin.
How is KRW performing this month?
Use the converter above and click through to any pair page to see the 30-day range bar, which shows where today's rate sits relative to the recent trend. The rate statistics panel shows 30-day low, high, average, and volatility.
Where can I find historical KRW rates?
Click on any pair page below and scroll to the history chart. You can view 7-day, 30-day, or 1-year history with daily rates. Use the date picker to look up a specific historical date.
What affects the value of South Korean Won?
Central bank interest rate decisions from the Bank of Korea (BOK) are typically the largest driver. Inflation data, economic growth figures, trade balances, and political stability also matter. On a day-to-day basis, scheduled economic data releases and central bank communication can cause noticeable moves.
Why do different sites show different KRW rates?
Different providers use different data sources, update at different times, and may show rates that already include their markup. The mid-market rate (shown here) is the most neutral benchmark. If a site shows a rate that is noticeably worse, that difference is likely their margin built into the number.
How is the KRW exchange rate set?
Most exchange rates are determined by supply and demand in the global forex market, where banks, funds, and corporations trade currencies 24 hours a day on weekdays. Interest rate differentials between central banks are the biggest long-term driver. No single entity "sets" the rate - it emerges from millions of transactions.
Learn more
- Bank of Korea - Exchange Rates - Official daily KRW rates
- Statistics Korea (KOSTAT) - Korean economic data including semiconductor exports, trade, and CPI
KRW rate statistics
South Korean Won rate context
We compare the current South Korean Won exchange rate against its recent trading range to help you decide whether now is a good time to convert. The live analysis updates throughout market hours.
Rate analysis updates when live data is available.
Forex Market Hours
The forex market is open 24 hours a day, five days a week. Trading passes between these major financial centers as the world turns.
| Market | Timezone | Local Time | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇺 Sydney | AEST | — | — |
| 🇯🇵 Tokyo | JST | — | — |
| 🇬🇧 London | GMT/BST | — | — |
| 🇺🇸 New York | ET | — | — |
All KRW Currency Pairs
Live exchange rate pages for South Korean Won against every supported currency.