Exchange rates and conversions
South Korean Won (KRW)
The South Korean won (KRW) is the currency of South Korea, issued by the Bank of Korea. It has no subunit in daily use, so amounts are whole won and everyday prices run into the thousands.
Updated Sep 19, 2026, 12:02 AM
Common KRW amounts
Updated Sep 19, 2026, 12:02 AM
KRW against the major currencies
| Currency | 1 KRW = | 1 unit in KRW |
|---|---|---|
| USDUS Dollar | 0.000721 | 1,386.89 |
| EUREuro | 0.000628 | 1,591.82 |
| GBPBritish Pound | 0.000539 | 1,853.84 |
| JPYJapanese Yen | 0.11324 | 8.8306 |
| CHFSwiss Franc | 0.000594 | 1,684.50 |
| CADCanadian Dollar | 0.001009 | 991.201 |
| AUDAustralian Dollar | 0.001013 | 987.493 |
| CNYChinese Yuan | 0.004841 | 206.564 |
| INRIndian Rupee | 0.06921 | 14.4483 |
| XOFWest African CFA Franc | 0.41203 | 2.4270 |
| XAFCentral African CFA Franc | 0.41203 | 2.4270 |
| MADMoroccan Dirham | 0.006825 | 146.519 |
| NGNNigerian Naira | 0.95886 | 1.0429 |
| ZARSouth African Rand | 0.01173 | 85.2618 |
| BRLBrazilian Real | 0.003703 | 270.016 |
| MXNMexican Peso | 0.01241 | 80.5763 |
| RUBRussian Ruble | 0.06086 | 16.4304 |
| TRYTurkish Lira | 0.03517 | 28.4301 |
| AEDUAE Dirham | 0.002648 | 377.641 |
| SARSaudi Riyal | 0.002704 | 369.837 |
| SEKSwedish Krona | 0.007092 | 140.996 |
| NOKNorwegian Krone | 0.006794 | 147.199 |
| PLNPolish Zloty | 0.002740 | 364.935 |
| SGDSingapore Dollar | 0.000920 | 1,086.42 |
The figure shown is the mid-market rate: the midpoint between the buy and sell price, updated hourly. It is the rate before any margin is added, so a bank or a bureau de change will quote you a lower one.
About the South Korean Won
The won in use today dates from 1962, when a currency reform replaced the hwan at ten hwan to one won. The name shares its origin with the Japanese yen and the Chinese yuan: all three come from a character meaning round, after the shape of the silver coins that circulated across the region. The Bank of Korea, founded in 1950, issues notes of 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 50,000 won, the largest of which only appeared in 2009.
South Korea has long limited the use of its currency outside its borders, so there is no deep offshore market in won and much international dealing is settled in dollars rather than in the currency itself. In practice that means banks abroad rarely stock won notes, and the rate you see quoted internationally is derived from the onshore market in Seoul. Changing money on arrival or paying by card is the normal route for a visitor.
The won is the currency of South Korea. North Korea issues a separate won of its own, unrelated in value and not exchangeable against it.
KRW at a glance
- Symbol
- ₩ (KRW)
- Subunit
- 1 won = 100 jeon, used only for quoting exchange rates
- Central bank
- Bank of Korea, founded in 1950
- Current unit
- 1962, when the won replaced the hwan
- ISO 4217 code
- KRW
Most-viewed conversions from KRW
- KRW → USD1 KRW = 0.000721 USD
- KRW → EUR1 KRW = 0.000628 EUR
- KRW → GBP1 KRW = 0.000539 GBP
- KRW → JPY1 KRW = 0.11324 JPY
- KRW → CHF1 KRW = 0.000594 CHF
- KRW → CAD1 KRW = 0.001009 CAD
- KRW → AUD1 KRW = 0.001013 AUD
- KRW → CNY1 KRW = 0.004841 CNY
- KRW → INR1 KRW = 0.06921 INR
- KRW → XOF1 KRW = 0.41203 XOF
- KRW → XAF1 KRW = 0.41203 XAF
- KRW → MAD1 KRW = 0.006825 MAD
Conversions into KRW
FAQ
What is the currency of South Korea?
South Korea uses the won, ISO code KRW, written ₩ and issued by the Bank of Korea in Seoul. It has no subunit in circulation, so prices are whole numbers: a coffee costs a few thousand won and a meal tens of thousands.
Why are prices in Korea such large numbers?
The won is a small unit and was never redenominated after the 1962 reform, so ordinary prices carry three, four or five digits. A quick mental shortcut is to drop the last three zeros to read thousands of won, then convert that smaller figure.
Should I change money before travelling to South Korea?
Won notes are not widely stocked by banks outside Korea, and the rate abroad is usually poor when they are. Exchange counters in Seoul and at the airports are straightforward, cards are accepted almost everywhere, and the figure to compare any offer against is the mid-market rate shown here, before the counter's margin.
Follow the KRW from your phone
The app converts KRW into 148 currencies, offline included, and keeps your favourite pairs one tap away.