South Korean won | |||
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대한민국 원 (Hangul) 大韓民國 圓1 (Hanja) |
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ISO 4217 Code | KRW | ||
User(s) | Republic of Korea | ||
Inflation | 2.5% | ||
Source | UPI, 2008 (National Statistical Office, S. Korea) |
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Method | CPI | ||
Subunit | |||
1/100 | jeon (전/錢) Theoretical (not used) |
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Symbol | ₩ | ||
Plural | The language(s) of this currency does not have a morphological plural distinction. | ||
Coins | ₩1, ₩5, ₩10, ₩50, ₩100, ₩500 | ||
Banknotes | ₩1000, ₩5000, ₩10000, ₩50000 | ||
Central bank | Bank of Korea | ||
Website | eng.bok.or.kr | ||
Printer | Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation | ||
Website | english.komsco.com | ||
Mint | Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation | ||
Website | english.komsco.com | ||
The won (원) (sign: ₩; code: KRW) is the currency of South Korea. A single won is divided into 100 jeon, the monetary subunit. The jeon is no longer used for everyday transactions, and appears only in foreign exchange rates. One South Korean won (as of May 25, 2010) is equal to 0.114364 North Korean won[2].
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"Won" is a cognate of the Chinese yuan and Japanese yen. All three names derive from the Chinese character 圓(원), which means "round shape." The won was subdivided into 100 jeon (Hangul: 전; Hanja: 錢; RR: jeon; MR: chŏn), which means "money"; this word is also of Chinese origin and refers to the bronze and copper coins of old.
The won has been in use for thousands of years. After the Japanese annexation in 1910 and subsequent occupation, the won was replaced at par by the yen, made up of the Japanese currency and banknotes of the Korean yen.
In 1945 after World War II, Korea became divided, resulting in two separate currencies, both called won, for the South and the North. Both the Southern won and the Northern won replaced the yen at par. The first South Korean won was subdivided into 100 jeon. Only banknotes were issued, initially circulating alongside banknotes of both the Japanese and Korean yen and Japanese coins.
The South Korean won was initially pegged to the U.S. dollar at a rate of 15 won = 1 dollar. A series of devaluations followed, the later ones in part due to the Korean war. The pegs were:
Pegs for the first South Korean won | |
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Date introduced | Value of U.S. dollar in won |
October, 1945 | 15 |
July 15, 1947 | 50 |
October 1, 1948 | 450 |
June 14, 1949 | 900 (non-government transactions only) |
May 1, 1950 | 1800 |
November 1, 1950 | 2500 |
April 1, 1951 | 6000 |
The first South Korean won was replaced by the hwan on February 15, 1953 at a rate of 1 hwan = 100 won.
In 1946, the Bank of Joseon introduced 10 and 100 won notes. These were followed in 1949 by 5 and 1000 won notes. The designs were similar to those of the yen notes from the Japanese occupation period. However, there were two subtle and important differences. The new notes replaced the paulownia, the badge of the government of Japan, with the five-petalled Rose of Sharon, South Korea's national flower. The clause referring to exchangeability with the Japanese yen was also removed.
A new central bank, the Bank of Korea, was established in 1950, and assumed the duties of Bank of Joseon. Notes were introduced (some dated 1949) in denominations of 5, 10 and 50 jeon, 100 and 1000 won. 500 won notes were introduced in 1952. In 1953, a series of banknotes was issued which, although it gave the denominations in English in won, were, in fact, the first issues of the hwan.
The won was reintroduced on June 9, 1962 at a rate of 1 won = 10 hwan. It became the sole legal tender on March 22, 1975 with the withdrawal of the last circulating hwan coins. Its ISO 4217 code is KRW. At the reintroduction of the won in 1962, its value was pegged at 125 won = 1 U.S. dollar. The following pegs operated between 1962 and 1980.
Pegs for the second South Korean won | |
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Date introduced | Value of U.S. dollar in won |
June 10, 1962 | 125 |
May 3, 1964 | 255 |
August 3, 1972 | 400 |
December 7, 1974 | 480 |
January 12, 1980 | 580 |
On February 27, 1980, efforts were initiated to lead to a floating exchange rate. The won was finally allowed to float on December 24, 1997 when an agreement was signed with the International Monetary Fund.[3] Shortly after, the won was devalued to almost half of its value, as part of the East Asian financial crisis.
Until 1966, 10 and 50 hwan coins, revalued as 1 and 5 won, were the only coins in circulation. New coins, denominated in won, were introduced by the Bank of Korea on August 16, 1966 in denominations of 1, 5 and 10 won, with the 1 won struck in brass and the 5 and 10 won in bronze. These were the first South Korean coins to display the date in the Common era, earlier coins having used the Korean calendar. The 10 and 50 hwan coins were demonetized on March 22, 1975.[4]
In 1968, as the intrinsic value of the brass 1 won coin far surpassed its face value, new aluminium 1 won coins were issued to replace them. As an attempt to further reduce currency production costs, new 5 won and 10 won coins were issued in 1970, struck in brass. Cupro-nickel 100 won coins were also introduced that year, followed by Cupro-nickel 50 won in 1972.[4]
1966-1982 issued coins [1] [2] (Korean) | ||||||||||||
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Image | Value | Technical parameters | Description | Date of | BOK Series Designation | |||||||
Obverse | Reverse | Diameter | Mass | Composition | Edge | Obverse | Reverse | first minting | issue | withdrawal | ||
₩1 | 17.2 mm | 1.7 g | Brass 60% copper 40% zinc |
Plain | Rose of Sharon, value, bank title (hangul) | Value (digit), bank title, year of minting | 1966 | August 16, 1966 | December 1, 1980 | Series I (가) | ||
₩1 | 17.2 mm | 0.729 g | 100% aluminium | Plain | Rose of Sharon, value, bank title (hangul) | Value (digit), bank title, year of minting | 1968 | August 26, 1968 | Still circulating | Series II (나) | ||
₩5 | 20.4 mm | 3.9 g | Commercial bronze 88% copper 12% zinc |
Plain | Geobukseon, value, bank title (hangul) | Value (digit), bank title, year of minting | 1966 | August 16, 1966 | Still circulating | Series I (가) | ||
₩5 | 20.4 mm | 2.95 g | High brass 65% copper 35% zinc |
Plain | Geobukseon, value, bank title (hangul) | Value (digit), bank title, year of minting | 1970 | July 16, 1970 | Still circulating | Series II (나) | ||
₩10 | 22.86 mm | 4.22 g | Commercial bronze 88% copper 12% zinc |
Plain | Dabotap Pagoda, value, bank title (hangul) | Value (digit), bank title, year of minting | 1966 | August 16, 1966 | Still circulating | Series I (가) | ||
₩10 | 22.86 mm | 4.06 g | High brass 65% copper 35% zinc |
Plain | Dabotap Pagoda, value, bank title (hangul) | Value (digit), bank title, year of minting | 1970 | July 16, 1970 | Still circulating | Series II (나) | ||
₩50 | 21.6 mm | 4.16 g | 70% copper 18% zinc 12% nickel |
Milled | Stalk of rice, value (hangul) | Value (digit), bank title (hangul), year of minting | 1972 | December 1, 1972 | Still circulating | Series I (가) | ||
₩100 | 24 mm | 5.42 g | Cupronickel 75% copper 25% nickel |
Yi Sun-sin, value, bank title (hangul) | Value (digit), year of minting | 1970 | November 30, 1970 | |||||
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimeter. For table standards, see the coin specification table. |
In 1982, with inflation and the increasing popularity of vending machines, 500 won coins were introduced on June 12, 1982. In January 1983, with the purpose of standardizing the coinage, a new series of 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100 won coins were issued, using the same layout as the 500 won coins, but conserving the coins old themes.[4]
1982-2006 issued coins [3][5] | |||||||||||
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Image | Value | Technical parameters | Description | Date of | BOK Series Designation | ||||||
Obverse | Reverse | Diameter | Mass | Composition | Edge | Obverse | Reverse | first minting | issue | ||
₩1 | 17.2 mm | 0.729 g | 100% aluminium | Plain | Rose of Sharon, value (hangul) | Value (digit), bank title, year of minting | 1983 | January 15, 1983 | Series III (다) | ||
₩5 | 20.4 mm | 2.95 g | High brass 65% copper 35% zinc |
Plain | Geobukseon, value (hangul) | Value (digit), bank title, year of minting | 1983 | January 15, 1983 | Series III (다) | ||
₩10 | 22.86 mm | 4.06 g | Dabotap Pagoda, value (hangul) | ||||||||
₩10 | 18 mm | 1.22 g | Copper plated aluminium 48% copper 52% aluminium |
Plain | Dabotap pagoda, value (hangul) | Value (digit), bank title, year of minting | 2006 | December 18, 2006 | |||
₩50 | 21.6 mm | 4.16 g | 70% copper 18% zinc 12% nickel |
Milled | Stalk of rice, value (hangul) | Value (digit), bank title, year of minting | 1983 | January 15, 1983 | Series II (나) | ||
₩100 | 24 mm | 5.42 g | Cupronickel 75% copper 25% nickel |
Yi Sun-sin, value (hangul) | |||||||
₩500 | 26.5 mm | 7.7 g | Red-crowned Crane, value (hangul) | 1982 | June 12, 1982 | Series I (가) | |||||
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimeter. For table standards, see the coin specification table. |
The Bank of Korea announced in early 2006 its intention to redesign the 10 won coin by the end of that year. With the increasing manufacturing price, then at 38 won per 10 won coin, and rumors that some people had been melting the coins to make jewelry, the redesign was needed to make the coin more cost effective to produce.[6] The new coin is made of copper-coated aluminum with a reduced diameter of 18 mm, and a weight of 1.22 g. Its visual design is the same as the old coin.[7] The new coin was issued on December 18, 2006.[8][9]
The 1 and 5 won coins are difficult to find in circulation today and prices of consumer goods are rounded to the nearest 10 won.
In 1998, the production costs per coin were are as follows: 10 won coins each cost 35 won to produce, 100 won coins cost 58 won, and 500 won coins cost 77 won.[10]
The Bank of Korea designates banknote and coin series in a unique way. Instead of putting those of similar design and issue dates in the same series, they assign series number X to the Xth design of for each individual value. The series numbers are expressed with Korean letters used in alphabetical order, e.g. 가, 나, 다, 라, 마, 바, 사. Therefore, ₩1000 issued in 1983 is series II (나) because it is the second design of all ₩1000 designs since the won introduction in 1962.
In 1962, 10 and 50 jeon, 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 won notes were introduced by the Bank of Korea. The first issue of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 won notes were printed in the U.K. by Thomas De La Rue. The jeon notes together with a second issue of 10 and 100 won notes were printed domestically by the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation.
In 1965, 100 won notes (Series III) were printed using intaglio printing techniques, for the first time on domestically printed notes, to reduce counterfeiting. Replacements for the British 500 won notes followed in 1966 also using intaglio printing, and for the 50 won notes in 1969 using litho-printing.[4]
1962 Thomas De La Rue Series [4] (Korean) | |||||||||
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Image | Value | Dimensions | Main color | Description | Date of | BOK Series Designation | |||
Obverse | Reverse | Obverse | Reverse | issue | withdrawal | ||||
₩1 | 94 × 50 mm | Pink | Bank of Korea's symbol | Value | June 10, 1962 | May 20, 1970 | None | ||
₩5 | Blue | May 1, 1969 | |||||||
₩10 | 108 × 54 mm | Green | September 1, 1962 | Series I (가) | |||||
₩50 | 156 × 66 mm | Orange | Haegeumgang near Geoje | Torch, value | May 20, 1970 | ||||
₩100 | Green | Independence Gate | February 14, 1969 | ||||||
₩500 | Grey | Namdaemun | February 3, 1967 | ||||||
1962-1969 KOMSCO Series [5] (Korean) | |||||||||
10 jeon | 90 × 50 mm | Blue | "Bank of Korea" and value (Korean) | "Bank of Korea" and value (English) | December 1, 1962 | December 1, 1980 | None | ||
50 jeon | Brown | ||||||||
₩10 | 140 × 63 mm | Purple | Cheomseongdae | Geobukseon | September 21, 1962 | October 30, 1973 | Series II (나) | ||
₩50 | 149 × 64 mm | Green and orange / Blue | Pagoda Gongweon in Seoul | Beacon, Rose of Sharon | March 21, 1969 | Series II (나) | |||
₩100 | 156 × 66 mm | Green | Independence Gate | Gyeonghoeru Pavilion at Gyeongbok Palace | November 1, 1962 | Series II (나) | |||
Sejong the Great | Main building of the Bank of Korea | August 14, 1965 | December 1, 1980 | Series III (다) | |||||
₩500 | 165 × 73 mm | Brown | Namdaemun | Geobukseon | August 16, 1966 | May 10, 1975 | Series II (나) | ||
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixels per millimeter. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
With the economic development from the 60s the value of the 500 won notes became lower, resulting in a greater use of cashier's checks with higher fixed denominations as means of payment, as well as an increased use of counterfeited ones.[4] In 1970, the 100 won notes were replaced by coins, with the same happening to the 50 won notes in 1972.
Higher denomination notes of 5000 won and 10,000 won were introduced in 1972 and 1973 respectively. The notes incorporated new security features, including watermark, security thread and ultraviolet response fibres and were inglio printed. The release of 10,000 won notes was planned to be at the same time as the 5000 won notes but problems with the main theme delayed it by a year.[11] Newly designed 500 won notes were also released in 1973 and the need for a medium denomination resulted in the introduction of 1000 won notes in 1975.
1972-1973 Series [6] (Korean) | |||||||||||
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Image | Value | Dimensions | Main color | Description | Date of | BOK Series Designation | Plate produced | ||||
Obverse | Reverse | Obverse | Reverse | Watermark | issue | withdrawal | |||||
₩5000 | 167 × 77 mm | Brown | Yi I | Main building of the Bank of Korea | July 1, 1972 | December 1, 1980 | Series I (가) | By Thomas de la Rue[12] | |||
₩10 000 | 171 × 81 mm | Brown | Sejong the Great, Rose of Sharon | Geunjeongjeon at Gyeongbok Palace | June 12, 1973 | November 10, 1981 | Series I (가) | In Japan[11] | |||
1973-1979 Series [7] (Korean) | |||||||||||
₩500 | 159 × 69 mm | Green and pink | Yi Sun-sin, Geobukseon | Yi Sun-sin's Shrine at Hyeonchungsa | None | September 1, 1973 | May 12, 1993 | Series III (다) | |||
₩1000 | 163 × 73 mm | Purple | Yi Hwang, Rose of Sharon | Dosan Seowon (Dosan Confucian Academy) | August 14, 1975 | Series I (가) | In Japan[13] | ||||
₩5000 | 167 × 77 mm | Orange | Yi I | Ojukheon in Gangneung | June 1, 1977 | May 12, 1993 | Series II (나) | In Japan[12] | |||
₩10 000 | 171 × 81 mm | Green | Sejong the Great, Water clock | Gyeonghoeru Pavilion at Gyeongbok Palace, Rose of Sharon | June 15, 1979 | May 12, 1993 | Series II (나) | In Japan[11] | |||
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixels per millimeter. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
In 1982, the 500 won note was replaced by a coin. The following year, as part of its policy of rationalizing the currency system, the Bank of Korea issued a new set of notes, as well as a new set of coins (see above). Some of the note's most notable features were distinguishable marks for the blind under the watermark and the addition of machine-readable language in preparation for mechanization of cash handling. They were also printed on better quality cotton pulp to reduce the production costs by extending their circulation life.[4]
To cope with the deregulation of imports of color printer and the increasing use of computers and scanners, modified 5000 won and 10,000 won notes were released between 1994 and 2002 with various new security features, which included: color-shifting ink, microprint, segmented metal thread, moiré, and EURion constellation. The latest version of the 5000 and 10,000 won are easily identifiable by the copyright information inscribed under the watermark: "© 한국은행" and year of issue on the obverse, "© The Bank of Korea" and year of issue on the reverse.
The plates for the 5000 won notes were produced in Japan while the ones for the 1000 and 10,000 won notes were produced by the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation. They were all printed in intaglio.[11][12][13]
With the release of a new set of notes, no plan has yet been made to withdraw these notes from circulation.[14]
1983-2002 Series [8] (Korean) | ||||||||||
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Image | Value | Dimensions | Main Color | Description | Date of issue | BOK Series Designation | Modification | |||
Obverse | Reverse | Obverse | Reverse | Watermark | ||||||
₩1000 | 151 × 76 mm | Purple | Yi Hwang | Dosan Seowon (Dosan Confucian Academy) | Reversed portrait | June 11, 1983 | Series II (나) | |||
₩5000 | 156 × 76 mm | Orange | Yi I | Ojukheon in Gangneung | June 11, 1983 | Series III (다) | ||||
June 12, 2002 | Series IV (라) | Color-shifting ink on the dots for blinds, segmented metal thread, copyright inscription | ||||||||
₩10 000 | 161 × 76 mm | Green | Sejong the Great, Water clock | Gyeonghoeru Pavilion at Gyeongbok Palace | October 8, 1983 | Series III (다) | ||||
January 20, 1994 | Series IV (라) | Segmented metal thread, microprint under the water clock, moiré on watermark area, intaglio latent image | ||||||||
Reversed portrait, Taeguk | June 19, 2000 | Series V (마) | Color-shifting ink on the dots for blinds, removal of moiré, EURion constellation, copyright inscription | |||||||
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixels per millimeter. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
In 2006, it became a major concern that the Korean won banknotes were being counterfeited/forged. Notably the 5000 won note (worth about US$5), over 50% of the notes were confiscated as counterfeit. This led the government to issue a new series of banknotes, with the 5000 won note being the first one to be redesigned. Later in 2007, the 1000 and the 10000 won note was introduced.
The banknotes include over 10 security features in each denomination. The 10000 won note has 21 security features, the 5000 won note 17, and the 1000 won note 19. Many modern security features that can be also found in Euros, Pound sterling, Canadian dollar, Japanese yen are included in the banknotes. Some security features inserted in won notes are:
For the first time in the world, the KOMSCO, the Korean mint, inserted a new substance in the notes to detect counterfeits. This technique is being exported to Europe, North America, etc.[15]
2006-2007 Series [9] (Korean) | |||||||||
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Image | Value | Dimensions | Main Color | Description | Date of issue | BOK Series Designation | |||
Obverse | Reverse | Obverse | Reverse | Watermark | |||||
₩1000 | 136 × 68 mm | Blue | Yi Hwang, Myeongryundang in Seonggyungwan, plum flowers | "Gyesangjeonggeodo"; a painting Yi Hwang in Dosan Seowon by Jeong Seon | Reversed portrait, value | January 22, 2007 | Series III (다) | ||
₩5000 | 142 × 68 mm | Red and yellow | Yi I, Ojukheon in Gangneung, black bamboo | "Insects and Plants", a painting of a watermelon and cockscombs by Yi I's mother Shin Saimdang | January 2, 2006 | Series V (마) | |||
₩10 000 | 148 × 68 mm | Green | Sejong the Great, Irworobongdo, a folding screen for Joseon-era kings, and text from the second chapter of Yongbieocheonga, the first work of literature written in Korean | Globe of Honcheonsigye and Cheonsang Yeolcha Bunyajido in the background | January 22, 2007 | Series VI (바) | |||
₩50 000 | 154 × 68 mm | Orange and Yellow | Shin Saimdang with Chochungdo - A Folding Screen of Embroidered Plants and Insects (South Korean National Treasure No. 595) in the background | Bamboo and a maesil tree | June 23, 2009 | Series VI (바) | |||
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixels per millimeter. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
On June 23, 2009, the Bank of Korea released the 50,000 Won note. The obverse bears a portrait of Shin Saimdang, a prominent 16th-century artist, calligrapher, and mother of Confucian scholar Yulgok, also known as Yi I, who is on the 5,000 Won note. This note is the first Korean banknote that features the portrait of a woman.[16] 100,000 won notes were also announced, but their release was later canceled.[17] The release of the 50,000 won note stirred some controversy among shop owners and those with visual impairments due to its similarity in color and numerical denomination with the 5,000 won note.[18]
The Bank of Korea is the only institution in South Korea that has the right to print banknotes and mint coins. The banknotes and coins are printed at KOMSCO, a government-owned corporation, under the guidance of the Bank of Korea. After the new crisp banknotes and coins are printed/minted, they are bundled up in bundles/rolls and shipped to the Headquarters of the Bank of Korea. When delivered, the banknotes and coins are deposited inside the Bank's vault, ready to be distributed to commercial banks when requested. Every year, around Seollal and Chuseok, two major Korean holidays, the Bank of Korea distributes large amount of its currency to most of the commercial banks in South Korea, which are then given to their customers upon request.
Current KRW exchange rates | |
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Preceded by: Korean yen Ratio: at par |
Currency of South Korea 1945 – 1953 |
Succeeded by: South Korean hwan Reason: inflation Ratio: 1 hwan = 100 won |
Preceded by: South Korean hwan Reason: inflation Ratio: 1 won = 10 hwan |
Currency of South Korea 1962 – |
Succeeded by: Current |
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