South Korean won

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South Korean won
대한민국 원 (Hangul)
大韓民國 원1 (Hanja)
Currently circulating coins and banknotes
Currently circulating coins and banknotes
ISO 4217 Code KRW
User(s) Flag of South Korea Republic of Korea
Inflation 2.5%
Source UPI, 2007
(National Statistical Office, S. Korea)
Method CPI
Subunit
1/100 jeon (전)
Theoretical (not used)
Symbol
Plural The language(s) of this currency does not have a morphological plural distinction.
Coins
Freq. used ₩10, ₩50, ₩100, ₩500
Rarely used ₩1, ₩5
Cash transactions are legally rounded to the nearest ₩10
Banknotes ₩1000, ₩5000, ₩10000
Central bank Bank of Korea
Website www.bok.or.kr
Printer Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation
Website www.komsco.com
Mint Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation
Website www.komsco.com
  1. The old won's hanja is but the new one is not written in Hanja[1].

The won () is the currency of South Korea. A currency called the won circulated in all Korea between 1902 and 1910. The won was first the currency of South Korea between 1945 and 1953, with the currently circulating won introduced in 1962. The won is subdivided into 100 jeon (), although denominations in jeon are no longer used. Its ISO 4217 code is KRW. The Latinized symbol for won, , is made of a letter W with an equal sign ("="), which is abbreviated to a single dash sign ("–") in many cases. This symbol replaces the backslash character ("\") on Korean keyboards.

Contents

[edit] Etymology

"Won" is a cognate of the Chinese yuan and Japanese yen. All three names derive from the Chinese character (원), which means "round shape." The won was subdivided into 100 jeon (Hangul: 전; Hanja: 錢; Revised Romanization: jeon; McCune-Reischauer: chŏn), which means "money."

[edit] First South Korean won

[edit] History

The won was first used as Korea's currency between 1902 and 1910. It was replaced at par by the yen, made up of the Japanese currency and banknotes of the Korean yen.

In 1945, Korea was divided, resulting in separate currencies, both called won, for the South and North. Both the Southern won and Northern won replaced the yen at par. The first South Korean won was subdivided into 100 jeon. Only banknotes were issued, which initially circulated 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
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.

[edit] Banknotes

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.

[edit] Second South Korean won

[edit] History

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
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.[2] Shortly after, the won was devalued to almost half of its value, as part of the East Asian financial crisis.

[edit] Coins

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.[3]

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.[3]

1966-1982 issued coins [1] [2] (Korean)
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, a Wikipedia standard for world coins. 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.[3]

1982-2006 issued coins [3][4]
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 Crane, value (hangul) 1982 June 12, 1982 Series I (가)
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimeter, a Wikipedia standard for world coins. 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.[5] 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.[6] The new coin was issued on December 18, 2006.[7][8]

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.[9]

[edit] Banknotes

The Bank of Korea designates banknote and coin series in an interesting 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 Company. 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.[3]

1962 Thomas De La Rue Series [4] (Korean)
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, a Wikipedia standard for world banknotes. 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.[3] 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.[10] 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)
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 [11]
₩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 [10]
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 [12]
₩5000 167 × 77 mm Orange Yi I Ojukheon in Gangneung June 1, 1977 May 12, 1993 Series II (나) In Japan [11]
₩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 [10]
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixels per millimeter, a Wikipedia standard for world banknotes. 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.[3]

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.[10][11][12]

With the release of a new set of notes, no plan as yet been made to withdraw these notes from circulation.[13]

1983-2002 Series [8] (Korean)
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, a Wikipedia standard for world banknotes. For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

[edit] Current banknotes

The Bank of Korea is releasing a set of smaller banknotes with a new design and improved security features starting in 2006. The decision was taken due to an increase of counterfeited notes detected of 50% every year between 1998 and 2004.[14] The 5000 won notes were released on January 2, 2006, and the 1000 and 10,000 won notes were released on 22 January 2007. The 5000 won notes were released first because they were the most forged notes (2508 out of the 3153 forged notes detected in the 1st quarter of 2005, an increase of eighteenfold from the same time in the previous year) and they are circulating in a smaller volume (about 6% of all circulating notes).[14]

[edit] Banknote Production

The Bank of Korea is the only organization in South Korea that has the right to print banknotes. But the banknotes are printed at Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation, or KOMSCO. The banknotes are printed on 100% pure cotton.

The current 10000 won note has King Sejong the Great as the portrait, the 5000 won note with Lee Yul Gok, and the 1000 won note with a scholar named Lee Tae Gye. The banknote size and with were reduced from the previous series. The new banknotes' designs and security features made the South Korean banknotes into one of the world's high-class banknotes. Because of the new banknote series, the country was busy replacing Bank ATMs, vending machines, exchanging old series notes into current notes to banks in Korea and internationally.

In South Korea, new, crisp banknotes are usually in banks of limited quantities for their customers to exchange them. But on Chuseok or Seollal, the Bank of Korea distributes new crisp banknotes to the public. A lot of people go to the bank to change their notes to crisp notes at Seollal to give to their children, nephews, etc.

[edit] Security features

South Korea boasts one of the most advanced security features on their banknotes, with over 10 security features in each denomination. The 10000 won note has 21 security features, the 5000 won note with 17, and the 1000 won note with 19. Even though most people know that the Swiss Franc is the most secure note in the world, the 10000 won note has 3 more features. Some security features inserted in South Korean won notes are:

  • holograms with 3D images change colours inside the metallic foil on the obverse side of the notes(exception of 1000 won)
  • watermark portraits of the the character in the note is visible when held to the light in the white section of the note
  • intaglio printing on words and the effigy gives a raised feeling, different than ordinary paper
  • security thread in the right side of the obverse side with small lettering 한국은행 Bank of Korea and the denomination
  • color shifting ink on the value number at the back of the note

For the first time in the world, the KOMSCO, the Korean mint, inserted a new substance in the notes to detect counterfeits which are now getting exported to Europe, North America, etc. [15]

2006-2007 Series [9] (Korean)
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, ume 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 Sin 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)
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixels per millimeter, a Wikipedia standard for world banknotes. For table standards, see the banknote specification table.
Current KRW exchange rates
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South Korean won to U.S. dollar exchange rate from January 1989 to July 2006.
South Korean won to U.S. dollar exchange rate from January 1989 to July 2006.
Japanese yen to South Korean won exchange rate from January 1989 to July 2006.
Japanese yen to South Korean won exchange rate from January 1989 to July 2006.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bank of Korea. 우리나라의 화폐, 현용화폐 (Korean). Retrieved on 2007-01-28. “한글로만 표기" → Translation: "Spelling in hangul only
  2. ^ Kurt Schuler (2004-02-29). Tables of modern monetary history: Asia. Currency Boards and Dollarization. Retrieved on 2006-11-16.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Currency Issue System. Bank of Korea. Retrieved on 2006-11-09.
  4. ^ 부산본부 (2006-12-12). 새 10원 동전, 12. 18(월)부터 발행 (hwp) (Korean). Bank of Korea. Retrieved on 2006-12-12.
  5. ^ "New W10 Coin to Debut", The Korea Times, 2006-01-13. Retrieved on 2006-12-11. 
  6. ^ "New 10-won Coins to Debut", KBS Global, 2006-08-10. Retrieved on 2006-12-11. 
  7. ^ "1원짜리 만한 10원 동전 18일 나온다", Daum Media, 2006-12-11. Retrieved on 2006-12-11. (Korean) 
  8. ^ "New 10-won Coins to Debut Next Week", KBS Global, 2006-12-11. Retrieved on 2006-12-12. 
  9. ^ "Coins Return to the Bank", The Chosun Ilbo, 1998-02-19. Retrieved on 2007-03-26. 
  10. ^ a b c d Brief History of current Korea notes in circulation; 10,000 won note (Flash and HTML). Bank of Korea. Retrieved on 2006-11-09.
  11. ^ a b c Brief History of current Korea notes in circulation; 5,000 won note (Flash and HTML). Bank of Korea. Retrieved on 2006-11-09.
  12. ^ a b Brief History of current Korea notes in circulation; 1,000 won note (Flash and HTML). Bank of Korea. Retrieved on 2006-11-09.
  13. ^ Bank of Korea (2006-07-26). Issue of New 10,000-won Notes and 1,000-won Notes on January 22, 2007 (PDF). Retrieved on 2006-10-17.
  14. ^ a b Bank of Korea (2005-04-18). New Banknotes Planned to Deter Counterfeiting (PDF). Retrieved on 2006-12-16.
  15. ^ http://www.bok.or.kr/template/newbanknotes/eng/html/index.jsp=tbl_FM0000000066_CA0000003607

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Preceded by:
South Korean hwan
Reason: inflation
Ratio: 1 won = 10 hwan
Currency of South Korea
1962
Succeeded by:
Current