Won Strengthens on Policy Clarity, Swap Talks in Focus

The South Korean won appreciated to around 1,389 per dollar on Monday, recouping losses from last week as investor concerns over policy risks eased. Monday’s confirmation that the threshold for major shareholders will remain at KRW 5 billion provided greater policy clarity, further easing concerns over potential equity market disruptions and associated capital outflows. Additional support for the won came from ongoing trade discussions between Seoul and Washington. According to government officials, South Korea has proposed establishing an “unlimited” bilateral currency swap arrangement with the US as part of its follow-up negotiations on a tariff framework deal agreed in late July. The proposal is aimed at strengthening financial stability and providing a safeguard against volatility in the won-dollar exchange rate, particularly as Seoul faces the prospect of sizable capital outflows linked to its pledged investment package in the US.