Won-Dollar Exchange Rate Hits 1,500 Won... Stock Market Pressure Mounts [3-Minute Brief]

Published 17 Mar.2026 08:00(KST)

[Quick Takes at a Glance]

1. Fallout from the Middle East war: Won-Dollar exchange rate surpasses 1,500 during trading hours

2. International oil prices remain high: Oil reserve releases provide only short-term relief

3. President Trump requests warship dispatch: "Unrealistic in practice"

MARKET INDEX

Won-Dollar Exchange Rate Hits 1,500 Won... Stock Market Pressure Mounts [3-Minute Brief] 원본보기 아이콘

○ All three major U.S. stock indices closed higher.

○ Oil prices fell ahead of the FOMC meeting.

○ Most technology stocks ended higher.

TOP 3 NEWS

■ High oil prices already a burden, and now the exchange rate hits 1,500 won... The negative impact on the stock market intensifies
○ The high exchange rate has caused a sharp increase in raw material import costs.
○ Industries such as aviation and petrochemicals are particularly sensitive to exchange rate changes.
○ Various sectors including food and pharmaceuticals are negatively affected. 
■ Oil reserve releases are a short-term measure... High oil prices will persist unless there is change in the Strait of Hormuz
○ IEA member countries in Asia and Oceania have released oil reserves.
○ The United States has also released 172 million barrels from its reserves.
○ Without changes in the Strait of Hormuz, these measures will not be effective. 
■ Three obstacles to dispatching warships to the Strait of Hormuz
○ It takes more than three weeks to dispatch vessels equipped with defense systems.
○ Even if the Cheonghae Unit is sent directly, tasks such as mine removal remain difficult.
○ Domestic political considerations must also be taken into account. 

the Chart: Major Shareholder Pours Cold Water on K Bank Stock Price Trend

Won-Dollar Exchange Rate Hits 1,500 Won... Stock Market Pressure Mounts [3-Minute Brief] 원본보기 아이콘

○ Woori Bank sold all of its available shares on the listing day.

○ Bain Capital, a financial investor, also sold part of its stake.

○ The risk of a "sell-off bomb" looms in June and September as lock-up periods expire.

Money-Making Law

Won-Dollar Exchange Rate Hits 1,500 Won... Stock Market Pressure Mounts [3-Minute Brief] 원본보기 아이콘
■ New trial court work assignments completed... Who will handle the "chairman's trial"?
○ Following the regular personnel reshuffle of the courts, benches for major corporate leader cases have been confirmed.
○ Supreme Court Justice Yongjoo Ma will serve as the presiding judge for the Supreme Court appeal of Chairman Hyunbum Cho.
○ Chief Judge Inkyeong Kim will preside over the appellate trial for founder Beomsu Kim. 
☞Read the article: https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/2026031615463489691
■ Stock trading and M&A also become negotiation topics... Yellow Envelope Act complicates corporate calculations
○ After the enactment of the Yellow Envelope Act, demands for bargaining at the principal level are spreading.
○ Many do not specify negotiation topics.
○ Legal disputes over each issue are expected to increase. 
☞Read the article: https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2026031615482000756
■ "Court records on a USB?"... Concerns raised over new petition trial system and methods of record transmission
○ New petition trial system implemented-record transmission methods are under debate.
○ The Constitutional Court has proposed delivering records via USB or internal web hard.
○ The legal community expresses concerns about security incidents and insufficient review processes.
☞Read the article: https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2026031615494308673

※ "Money-Making Law," a content partnership section between The Asia Business Daily and Law Times, is published every Tuesday and Thursday.

Today's Key Schedule

○ Domestic

06:00 Export Price Index (YoY) (February)


Hanpass KOSDAQ subscription, confirmed offering price: 19,000 won

Mezhu KOSDAQ subscription, planned offering price: 16,700~21,600 won

NH SPAC No.33 KOSDAQ subscription, confirmed offering price: 2,000 won


○ Overseas

00:30 President Trump's speech in the United States

◇Lunch & Evening Commute Weather
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○Precipitation probability: 0% in the morning｜20% in the afternoon
○Fine dust: Poor in the morning｜Normal in the afternoon
Won-Dollar Exchange Rate Hits 1,500 Won... Stock Market Pressure Mounts [3-Minute Brief] 원본보기 아이콘

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