South Korea\'s won-dollar exchange rate jumped to the 1,560 level, its highest since the financial crisis, stoking anxiety in currency markets. A surge cooled after authorities’ verbal intervention and the National Pension Service resumed currency hedging, but caution over U.S. monetary policy, Middle East uncertainty, foreign selling of local stocks and offshore NDF trading continue to weigh on the won. Analysts said the near-term ceiling may be limited, though volatility could persist.

With the June 3 local elections over, attention in South Korea’s financial sector is shifting back to financial authorities and the National Assembly. Issues that lost traction during the campaign, including governance reform at financial holding firms, digital asset regulation, loan rules for non-resident single-homeowners and a compensation liability system for voice phishing, may return to the agenda in the second half. Regulators have also adjusted ELS sanctions and stepped up work on consumer protection and AI security threats.