Story perspectives

South Korea Launches 24-Hour Won Trading to Boost Investment

9/27/2025

Summary

Story summary

South Korea will implement 24-hour won trading to attract foreign investment and widen access, per President Lee Jae-myung.
The plan addresses MSCI's emerging-market classification by establishing an offshore won settlement system.
Trading hours would extend from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. local time, with an FX network.
The won stood at KRW1,414 per U.S. dollar, raising intervention concerns.

History

Historical Context

In 1997, the Asian Financial Crisis prompted South Korea to reform its financial markets significantly. The Korea Exchange introduced measures to stabilize the won, which fluctuated dramatically, reaching KRW1,800 per U.S. dollar at its peak. Today, President Lee Jae-myung's initiative to implement 24-hour won trading aims to attract foreign investment and enhance market access. This move reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen South Korea's position in global finance and mitigate intervention concerns amid current exchange rate pressures.

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Story summary

South Korea will implement 24-hour won trading to attract foreign investment and widen access, per President Lee Jae-myung.
The plan addresses MSCI's emerging-market classification by establishing an offshore won settlement system.
Trading hours would extend from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. local time, with an FX network.
The won stood at KRW1,414 per U.S. dollar, raising intervention concerns.

1 / 2