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.
Local tip
South Korea is almost entirely cashless. Check your card's foreign transaction fee before you travel - it can add 1-3% to every purchase.
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.
- South Korea is one of the world's most cashless societies - over 90% of transactions are digital.
Frequently asked questions
Is the South Korean Won strong or weak right now?
The strength of the South Korean Won depends on the currency pair and timeframe you're examining. Check the rate statistics and historical charts above to see how KRW has moved against major currencies like the USD, EUR, and JPY over recent weeks and months.
The Bank of Korea influences won strength through interest rate decisions and market interventions, so shifts in BOK policy can move the currency relative to its peers. Use the converter above to see current KRW rates across multiple pairs.
What factors affect the South Korean Won exchange rate?
The South Korean Won responds to the Bank of Korea's monetary policy decisions, particularly interest rate changes that affect capital flows into Korean assets. South Korea's export-driven economy means global demand for semiconductors, electronics, and automobiles directly influences KRW - weakness in these sectors typically pressures the currency downward.
Geopolitical tensions on the Korean peninsula, US-Korea trade relations, and broader risk appetite in emerging markets also shape won movements, as do economic data releases on inflation, employment, and GDP growth.
What is the outlook for the South Korean Won?
The won's direction depends on multiple intersecting factors: the Bank of Korea's interest rate trajectory relative to the US Federal Reserve, global semiconductor demand cycles, and shifts in risk sentiment toward emerging markets. Historically, the won has been sensitive to US dollar strength, particularly when Fed policy diverges sharply from BOK policy.
Rather than making predictions, watch the economic calendars for Korean inflation data, trade figures, and central bank statements - these provide the context to interpret future KRW movements shown in the rate statistics on this page.
Is the South Korean Won widely used internationally?
The South Korean Won is not a reserve currency and plays a limited role in international trade compared to the US Dollar, Euro, or Japanese Yen. However, KRW is actively traded in foreign exchange markets and is important for companies doing business with South Korea, one of the world's largest exporters of semiconductors and electronics.
Most international transactions involving South Korea are still settled in USD, though the won is freely convertible and liquid in major financial centers worldwide.
How do I compare KRW rates across providers?
Use the converter above to view rates from multiple providers side by side for any KRW pair you need. Different banks, money transfer services, and forex brokers offer different rates depending on their spreads, margins, and trading volumes - comparing at least 2 - 3 providers helps you find the best deal for your specific transaction.
The pair pages below show historical rate data and volatility metrics that let you understand whether current spreads are typical or wide relative to past trading conditions. For large transfers, contact providers directly to negotiate better rates than their posted quotes.
How has the South Korean Won performed historically?
The won has experienced multiple structural shifts since South Korea's 1997 - 1998 financial crisis, when the currency collapsed and required an IMF bailout. Over the past two decades, the won has generally weakened against the US Dollar during periods of global risk-off sentiment and strengthened during times of strong Korean export demand and capital inflows.
Check the historical charts and rate statistics on this page to see how KRW has behaved across different economic cycles, and compare performance across multiple currency pairs to understand whether moves reflect won weakness or strength in the paired currency.
How volatile is the South Korean Won?
The South Korean Won exhibits moderate to high volatility compared to major developed-market currencies like the Euro or British Pound, but lower volatility than many emerging market currencies. Volatility spikes during periods of geopolitical tension on the Korean peninsula, sharp shifts in Fed policy, or global risk-off events when investors exit emerging market assets.
The rate statistics and volatility charts on this page show how KRW swings have behaved historically, helping you understand whether current price movements represent typical trading ranges or exceptional moves.
What is the best way to exchange South Korean Won?
The best method depends on your transaction size, location, and urgency. Large institutional transactions typically use banks or forex brokers through the converter above, while individuals traveling to or from South Korea may find competitive rates at exchange houses, airports, or ATMs in Korea.
Money transfer services offer different trade-offs between speed, cost, and convenience - compare rates across multiple providers using this page's tools before committing. Avoid exchanging currency at airports or tourist areas in any country, as those rates typically carry wider margins than banks or dedicated exchange services.
Is USD strong in Korea?
The US Dollar's strength relative to the South Korean Won fluctuates based on interest rate differentials, capital flows, and risk sentiment. When the Federal Reserve raises rates faster than the Bank of Korea, USD typically strengthens against KRW as investors seek higher returns on dollar-denominated assets.
Check the converter and rate charts on this page to see the USD/KRW pair's recent performance and compare it to historical averages, which will show you whether the current relationship reflects typical dynamics or represents an extreme move.
Why is Korean won so weak to USD?
The won's weakness against the US Dollar reflects several structural and cyclical factors: interest rate differentials (when US rates exceed Korean rates, capital flows favor dollar assets), South Korea's large current account surplus creating periodic won selling pressure, and the dollar's broad strength as a safe-haven currency during global uncertainty. Additionally, when global demand for exports weakens, Korean exporters' revenues decline, reducing natural selling of USD for KRW in the conversion process.
The rate statistics and historical data on this page show how these dynamics have played out over different time periods - examine longer-term trends to distinguish temporary moves from sustained shifts.
Is $10,000 a lot of money in Korea?
That depends on the current KRW/USD exchange rate and your purchasing context - check the converter above to see the precise won equivalent. In purchasing power terms, $10,000 USD converts to roughly the monthly income of a middle-class Korean worker, so it represents a meaningful but not exceptional sum for daily expenses like housing, food, and transportation.
The cost of living in Seoul is comparable to major US cities, so $10,000 would support several weeks of comfortable living but not extended stays without additional income or savings.
Why is KRW falling?
The South Korean Won's recent movements reflect the interplay of multiple factors: shifts in the Bank of Korea's monetary policy relative to the Federal Reserve, weakness in global semiconductor demand affecting Korean export revenues, and broader emerging market dynamics during periods of US dollar strength. Geopolitical risk factors, including tensions with North Korea, can also pressure the won as investors reduce exposure to Korean assets during risk-off periods.
Review the rate statistics, economic calendar, and central bank announcements on this page to understand which specific drivers have dominated KRW movements during the timeframe you're analyzing.
Learn more
- Bank of Korea - Exchange Rates - Official daily KRW rates
- Statistics Korea (KOSTAT) - Korean economic data including semiconductor exports, trade, and CPI
South Korean Won volatility profile
The South Korean won shows medium to high volatility, sensitive to global trade flows, semiconductor demand, and North Korean geopolitical risk. KRW can move sharply during risk-off episodes in Asian markets.
Live volatility score updates when market data is available.
Cost to convert South Korean Won
Banks typically mark up KRW conversions by 3-5%. Specialist transfer providers offer rates much closer to the mid-market rate shown above, potentially saving you $30-55 on every 1,000 KRW you convert.
| Provider | Typical fee | You receive |
|---|---|---|
| Wise | Mid-market rate + ~0.5% fee | — |
| Revolut | Mid-market rate, free up to monthly limit | — |
| OFX | No fixed fees, ~0.4% spread | — |
| Typical bank | 3-5% markup + fixed fee | — |
Based on sending 1,000 KRW to US Dollar. Costs include spread markup and fees. See full KRW to USD comparison →
Compare South Korean Won with similar currencies
South Korean Won belongs to the following currency characteristic groups. Currencies within each group often move in correlated patterns.
Asian trade bloc
Major Asian trading currencies linked by regional supply chains and trade flows. Movements in one often ripple through the others.
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.