South Korea began operating its won-dollar foreign exchange market on a 24-hour schedule starting July 6. Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol visited a Seoul bank dealing room to highlight improved market access.
Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol visited the dealing room of Hana Bank in central Seoul on the morning of July 6. He said the launch of the 24-hour trading system reflects South Korea's confidence in its economic fundamentals.
The market runs without break from 6 a.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Saturday, closing only on weekends and January 1. The previous system, introduced in July 2024, ran from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. the next day.
The won has fallen nearly 6 percent against the dollar this year. Foreign investors sold a net 156.56 trillion won of KOSPI shares through July 3.
Koo added that the change meets growing foreign demand, as shown by South Korea's inclusion in the World Government Bond Index. Bank of Korea Deputy Governor Min Soo Kwon said the central bank will monitor the impact on the market.
