On Wednesday, the Korean won fell to 1,487.6 against the US dollar, a decrease of 0.6%, reaching its lowest level since March 2009. This decline was mainly affected by concerns over Trump's tariffs, and the news that the inclusion of South Korean government bonds in the FTSE Global Bond Index had been delayed, which further pressured the won.
The won has fallen for four consecutive trading days, reaching its weakest level since March 2009. The won broke through 1,486.7 reached in December 2024, a moment that coincided with President Yoon Suk Yeol briefly implementing a martial law order, which damaged investor confidence. Relatedly, the Korean Composite Stock Price Index also fell, hitting its lowest point in 15 months, and government bond futures weakened.
Despite measures by the South Korean government to mitigate the negative impact of US tariffs, foreign capital continues to sell off Korean stocks. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell by 0.8%, closing at 2,334.23, the lowest point since November 2023.
The won fell more than 12% last year, becoming the biggest decliner among emerging Asian currencies, and has already slipped 1% this year. Additionally, in a Tuesday call with South Korea's acting president Han Duck-soo, Trump discussed tariffs, shipbuilding, and potential energy deals, further intensifying market uncertainty.
On the other hand, FTSE Russell announced the plan to include South Korean government bonds in the FTSE World Government Bond Index has been postponed to April 2026 from the originally planned date of November 2025. This delay added further negative impact to the South Korean market, causing concern among investors about the future outlook.
