2026.01.2803:19:38UTC+00South Korean Won Approaches 3-Month High

On Wednesday, the South Korean won appreciated to approximately 1,428 per dollar, marking its strongest performance in nearly three months. This gain aligns with a broad weakening of the US dollar, which has dropped to multi-year lows. The decline in the dollar was largely influenced by President Donald Trump’s comments, suggesting a level of comfort with a weaker dollar. Such remarks have intensified selling pressure on the dollar while buoying Asian currencies. Additionally, the won benefitted from robust foreign investment in Korean stocks, as the KOSPI index reached new record levels, driven by strong performances in semiconductor, automotive, and battery sectors, thereby enhancing foreign exchange inflows. Despite these gains, trade tensions with the United States remain a significant concern, especially after recent tariff threats. However, immediate concerns were alleviated when President Trump expressed a willingness for Washington to "work something out" with Seoul, allowing markets to view the issue as more of a negotiation challenge rather than an immediate policy disruption.