KBS News Dollar stabilization measures / KBS 2025.11.14.

[Anchor]

The joint document also includes safeguards to be activated if Korea faces a shortage of dollars due to increased investments in the United States.

Whether the government’s verbal intervention will actually help the exchange rate find stability remains to be seen.

Reporter Kim Ji-sook has more.

[Report]

Korea’s cap on direct investment in the U.S. is 20 billion dollars per year.

To mitigate shocks to the foreign exchange market, an upper limit was set — and the fact sheet outlines additional measures.

If market instability is expected, Korea may request adjustments to the investment amount or timing, and the United States will review the request in good faith.

[Kim Yong-beom/Presidential Chief of Staff for Policy: “Both sides agreed that the MOU must not cause instability in the market.”]

The dollar briefly exceeded 1,470 won yesterday (11.13) and again today (11.14).

In response, the government stepped in with verbal intervention.

Deputy Prime Minister Koo Yun-cheol stated that all available tools would be used and mentioned discussions with major dollar-consuming exporters and the National Pension Service.

Compared to a month ago — when the government said it was merely “closely monitoring” the situation — this shows a much more concrete stance.

After the verbal intervention, the weekly closing rate fell to 1,457 won per dollar.

[Kwon A-min/NH Investment & Securities Researcher: “We believe the government’s actions ultimately drove the decline in the exchange rate. Exporters are making a lot of inquiries now — if the rate drops further, they’ll need to release their dollars quickly…”]

Last month’s trade surplus was 6 billion dollars.

During the same period, individuals’ net purchases of U.S. stocks totaled 6.8 billion dollars.

In other words, even though exports brought in significant dollar earnings, just as much flowed out for U.S. stock purchases.

Companies are also increasingly holding onto their dollars instead of converting them to won — driven by expectations that the dollar will rise further and by the need to secure funds for upcoming U.S. investments.

Dollar outflow factors are increasing, while inflow factors are weakening.

[Moon Jeong-hee/Senior Deputy Manager, KB Kookmin Bank: “The big issue is that exporters really want to hold onto their dollars. They’re preparing for U.S. investments starting next year…”]

The KOSPI fell 3.8%, closing at the 4,010 level.

This is Kim Ji-sook, KBS News.

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