Bank of Korea Board Member Warns Won’s Moves Are Faster Than Expected

Seoul, 29 October 2026 – Bank of Korea board member Hwang Kunil says the recent movement of the South Korean won has been faster than expected, placing the speed and volatility of the exchange rate ahead of its absolute level in the policy discussion. The remarks keep the currency in focus as officials balance inflation risks, growth and financial-market stability.

For Asian businesses and investors, the message matters because won volatility affects import costs, exporters’ translated earnings, foreign-currency debt and the attractiveness of Korean assets. The comment is a signal for monitoring, not an announcement of intervention or a change in the policy rate. Companies should therefore distinguish confirmed official concern about the pace of moves from assumptions about what the central bank will do next.