Exchange Rate Rises on Importers' Settlement Demand... Returns to 1,400 Won Range in a Day

by Lee Seonae

Published 30 Sep.2025 16:20(KST)

On the 30th, a dealer was heading to their seat at the Hana Bank dealing room in Jung-gu, Seoul. On that day, the KOSPI closed at 3424.60, down 6.61 points (0.19%) from the previous session, and the won-dollar exchange rate ended at 1402.9 won, up 4.2 won. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The won-dollar exchange rate surpassed the 1,400 won mark again in a single day on September 30, driven by stronger demand for dollar settlements from importers.

On this day, the weekly closing price of the won-dollar exchange rate in the Seoul foreign exchange market (as of 3:30 p.m.) was 1,402.9 won, up 4.2 won from the previous trading day.

The exchange rate opened at 1,400.0 won, which was 1.3 won higher than the previous day, and at one point rose to 1,405.4 won. Although the rate had dropped back to the 1,300 won range for the first time in three sessions the previous day, it returned to the 1,400 won range in just one day.

While there were expectations in the market that exporters would sell their dollars at high levels (so-called "nego"), leading to a decline in the exchange rate, analysis shows that, in reality, stronger settlement demand from importers played a greater role, resulting in an upward trend.

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which measures the value of the dollar against the currencies of six major countries, fell 0.13% from the previous trading day to 97.818.