South Korean won - wikipedia South Korean won South Korean won 대한민국 원 ( Korean ) Coins and banknotes of the South Korean won. ISO 4217 Code KRW Number 410 Exponent 0 Denominations Subunit ​ ⁄ jeon ( 전 / 錢 ) Theoretical ( not used ) Plural The language ( s ) of this currency does not have a morphological plural distinction. Symbol ₩ Banknotes Freq. used ₩ 1,000, ₩ 5,000, ₩ 10,000, ₩ 50,000 Rarely used ₩ 2,000 Coins Freq. used ₩ 10, ₩ 50, ₩ 100, ₩ 500 Rarely used ₩ 1, ₩ 5 Demographics User ( s ) South Korea Issuance Central bank Bank of Korea Website eng.bok.or.kr Printer Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation Website english.komsco.com Mint Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation Website english.komsco.com Valuation Inflation 1.3 % ( Feb 2016, Year - on - Year % Change ) Source ( 6 ), February 2016 South Korean won Hangul 대한민국 원 Hanja 大韓民國 원 Revised Romanization Daehanmin ( - ) guk won McCune -- Reischauer Taehanmin'guk wŏn The won ( / wʌn / ; Korean : 원, Korean pronunciation : ( wʌn ) ; symbol : ₩ ; code : KRW ) or the Korean Republic Won is the currency of South Korea. A single won is divided into 100 jeon, the monetary subunit. The jeon is no longer used for everyday transactions, and appears only in foreign exchange rates. The won is issued by the Bank of Korea, based in the capital city of Seoul. The official currency of North Korea, issued by the Central Bank of the Democratic People 's Republic of Korea which is based in its capital city, Pyongyang, is divided into the same number of units, and is known as the North Korean won. Contents 1 Etymology 2 First South Korean won 2.1 History 2.2 Banknotes 3 Second South Korean won 3.1 History 3.2 Coins 3.3 Banknotes 3.3. 1 New series 3.3. 2 The 1,000 - won note security features 3.3. 3 The 5,000 - won note security features 3.3. 4 The 10,000 - won note security features 3.3. 5 The 50,000 - won note security features 4 Future of the South Korean won 5 Currency production 6 Current exchange rates 7 See also 8 References 9 External links Etymology Main article : Etymology of the Korean currencies The old `` won '' was a cognate of the Chinese yuan and Japanese yen. It is derived from the hanja 圓 ( 원 ), meaning `` currency '' or `` coin. '' The won was subdivided into 100 jeon ( Hangul : 전 ; Hanja : 錢 ; RR : jeon ; MR : chŏn ), itself a cognate of the Chinese character 錢 ( qián ) which means `` money '' and also used as a unit of money in ancient times. The current won ( 1962 to present ) is written in hangul only. First South Korean won Main article : South Korean won ( 1945 -- 53 ) History During the Colonial era, the won was replaced at par by the yen, made up of the Korean yen. In 1945 after World War II, Korea became divided, resulting in two separate currencies, both called won, for the South and the North. Both the Southern won and the Northern won replaced the yen at par. The first South Korean won was subdivided into 100 jeon. The South Korean won was initially pegged to the U.S. dollar at a rate of 15 won = 1 dollar. A series of devaluations followed, the later ones in part due to the Korean War. The pegs were : Pegs for the first South Korean won Date introduced Value of U.S. dollar in won October, 1945 15 July 15, 1947 50 October 1, 1948 450 June 14, 1949 900 ( non-government transactions only ) May 1, 1950 1,800 November 1, 1950 2,500 April 1, 1951 6,000 The first South Korean won was replaced by the hwan on February 15, 1953 at a rate of 1 hwan = 100 won. Republic of Korea Banknotes 5th Edition Banknotes In 1946, the Bank of Joseon introduced 10 - and 100 - won notes. These were followed in 1949 by 5 - and 1,000 - won notes. A new central bank, the Bank of Korea, was established on 12 June 1950, and assumed the duties of Bank of Joseon. Notes were introduced ( some dated 1949 ) in denominations of 5, 10 and 50 jeon, and 100 and 1,000 won. The 500 - won notes were introduced in 1952. In 1953, a series of banknotes was issued which, although it gave the denominations in English in won, were, in fact, the first issues of the hwan. Second South Korean won History The won was reintroduced on June 10, 1962, at a rate of 1 won = 10 hwan. It became the sole legal tender on March 22, 1975, with the withdrawal of the last circulating hwan coins. Its ISO 4217 code is KRW. At the reintroduction of the won in 1962, its value was pegged at 125 won = $ US 1. The following pegs operated between 1962 and 1980 : Pegs for the second South Korean won Date introduced Value of U.S. dollar in won June 10, 1962 125 May 3, 1964 255 August 3, 1972 400 December 7, 1974 480 January 12, 1980 580 On February 27, 1980, efforts were initiated to lead to a floating exchange rate. The won was finally allowed to float on December 24, 1997, when an agreement was signed with the International Monetary Fund. Shortly after, the won was devalued to almost half of its value, as part of the East Asian financial crisis. Coins Until 1966, 10 - and 50 - hwan coins, revalued as 1 and 5 won, were the only coins in circulation. New coins, denominated in won, were introduced by the Bank of Korea on August 16, 1966, in denominations of 1, 5 and 10 won, with the 1 won struck in brass and the 5 and 10 won in bronze. These were the first South Korean coins to display the date in the common era, earlier coins having used the Korean calendar. The 10 - and 50 - hwan coins were demonetized on March 22, 1975. In 1968, as the intrinsic value of the brass 1 - won coin far surpassed its face value, new aluminum 1 - won coins were issued to replace them. As an attempt to further reduce currency production costs, new 5 - and 10 - won coins were issued in 1970, struck in brass. Cupronickel 100 - won coins were also introduced that year, followed by cupronickel 50 won in 1972. 1966 -- 1982 issued coins ( in Korean ) Image Value Technical parameters Description Date of BOK series designation Obverse Reverse Diameter Mass Composition Edge Obverse Reverse First minting Issue Withdrawal ₩ 1 17.2 mm 1.7 g Brass 60 % copper 40 % zinc Plain Rose of Sharon, value, bank title ( hangul ) Value ( digit ), bank title, year of minting 1966 August 16, 1966 December 1, 1980 Series I ( 가 ) ₩ 1 17.2 mm 0.729 g 100 % aluminium Plain Rose of Sharon, value, bank title ( hangul ) Value ( digit ), bank title, year of minting 1968 August 26, 1968 1992 Series II ( 나 ) ₩ 5 20.4 mm 3.09 g Commercial bronze 88 % copper 12 % zinc Plain Geobukseon, value, bank title ( hangul ) Value ( digit ), bank title, year of minting 1966 August 16, 1966 1992 Series I ( 가 ) ₩ 5 20.4 mm 2.95 g High brass 65 % copper 35 % zinc Plain Geobukseon, value, bank title ( hangul ) Value ( digit ), bank title, year of minting 1970 July 16, 1970 1992 Series II ( 나 ) ₩ 10 22.86 mm 4.22 g Commercial bronze 88 % copper 12 % zinc Plain Dabotap Pagoda, value, bank title ( hangul ) Value ( digit ), bank title, year of minting 1966 August 16, 1966 Still circulating Series I ( 가 ) ₩ 10 22.86 mm 4.06 g High brass 65 % copper 35 % zinc Plain Dabotap Pagoda, value, bank title ( hangul ) Value ( digit ), bank title, year of minting 1970 July 16, 1970 Still circulating Series II ( 나 ) ₩ 50 21.6 mm 4.16 g 70 % copper 18 % zinc 12 % nickel Milled Stalk of rice, value ( hangul ) Value ( digit ), bank title ( hangul ), year of minting 1972 December 1, 1972 Still circulating Series I ( 가 ) ₩ 100 24 mm 5.42 g Cupronickel 75 % copper 25 % nickel Yi Sun - sin, value, bank title ( hangul ) Value ( digit ), year of minting 1970 November 30, 1970 These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimeter. For table standards, see the coin specification table. In 1982, with inflation and the increasing popularity of vending machines, 500 - won coins were introduced on June 12, 1982. In January 1983, with the purpose of standardizing the coinage, a new series of 1 -, 5 -, 10 -, 50 -, and 100 - won coins was issued, using the same layout as the 500 - won coins, but conserving the coins old themes. 1982 -- 2006 issued coins Image Value Technical parameters Description Date of BOK series designation Obverse Reverse Diameter Mass Composition Edge Obverse Reverse First minting Issue ₩ 1 17.2 mm 0.729 g 100 % aluminium Plain Rose of Sharon, value ( hangul ) Value ( digit ), bank title, year of minting January 15, 1983 Series III ( 다 ) ₩ 5 20.4 mm 2.95 g High brass 65 % copper 35 % zinc Plain Geobukseon, value ( hangul ) Value ( digit ), bank title, year of minting January 15, 1983 Series III ( 다 ) ₩ 10 22.86 mm 4.06 g Dabotap Pagoda, value ( hangul ) These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimeter. For table standards, see the coin specification table. Current coins Image Value Technical parameters Description Date of BOK series designation Obverse Reverse Diameter Mass Composition Edge Obverse Reverse First minting Issue ₩ 10 18 mm 1.22 g Copper - plated aluminium 48 % copper 52 % aluminium Plain Dabotap pagoda, value ( hangul ) Value ( digit ), bank title, year of minting 2006 December 18, 2006 Series IV ( 라 ) ₩ 50 21.6 mm 4.16 g 70 % copper 18 % zinc 12 % nickel Milled Stalk of rice, value ( hangul ) Value ( digit ), bank title, year of minting January 15, 1983 Series II ( 나 ) ₩ 100 24 mm 5.42 g Cupronickel 75 % copper 25 % nickel Yi Sun - sin, value ( hangul ) ₩ 500 26.5 mm 7.7 g Red - crowned crane, value ( hangul ) 1982 June 12, 1982 Series I ( 가 ) These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimeter. For table standards, see the coin specification table. The Bank of Korea announced in early 2006 its intention to redesign the 10 - won coin by the end of that year. With the increasing manufacturing price, then at 38 won per 10 - won coin, and rumors that some people had been melting the coins to make jewelry, the redesign was needed to make the coin more cost - effective to produce. The new coin is made of copper - coated aluminium with a reduced diameter of 18 mm, and a weight of 1.22 g. Its visual design is the same as the old coin. The new coin was issued on December 18, 2006. The 1 - and 5 - won coins are difficult to find in circulation today, and prices of consumer goods are rounded to the nearest 10 won. However, they are still in production, minting limited amounts of these two coins every year, for the Bank of Korea 's annual mint sets. In 1998, the production costs per coin were : 10 - won coins each cost 35 won to produce, 100 - won coins cost 58 won, and 500 won coins cost 77 won. The 100 - won coins have exactly the same shape as the U.S. quarter, the only difference is the composition, with the 100 - won coin struck in cupronickel rather than the U.S. quarter 's cupronickel - clad composition. Banknotes The Bank of Korea designates banknote and coin series in a unique way. Instead of putting those of similar design and issue dates in the same series, it assigns series number X to the Xth design of a given denomination. The series numbers are expressed with Korean letters used in alphabetical order, e.g. 가, 나, 다, 라, 마, 바, 사. Therefore, ₩ 1,000 issued in 1983 is series II ( 나 ) because it is the second design of all ₩ 1,000 designs since the introduction of the South Korean won in 1962. In 1962, 10 - and 50 - jeon, 1 -, 5 -, 10 -, 50 -, 100 - and 500 - won notes were introduced by the Bank of Korea. The first issue of 1 -, 5 -, 10 -, 50 -, 100 - and 500 - won notes was printed in the UK by Thomas De La Rue. The jeon notes together with a second issue of 10 - and 100 - won notes were printed domestically by the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation. In 1965, 100 - won notes ( series III ) were printed using intaglio printing techniques, for the first time on domestically printed notes, to reduce counterfeiting. Replacements for the British 500 - won notes followed in 1966, also using intaglio printing, and for the 50 - won notes in 1969 using lithoprinting. 1962 Thomas De La Rue Series ( in Korean ) Image Value Dimensions Main color Description Date of BOK series designation Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Issue Withdrawal ₩ 1 94 × 50 mm Pink Bank of Korea 's symbol Value June 10, 1962 May 20, 1970 None ₩ 5 Blue May 1, 1969 ₩ 10 108 × 54 mm Green September 1, 1962 Series I ( 가 ) ₩ 50 156 × 66 mm Orange Haegeumgang near Geoje Torch, value May 20, 1970 ₩ 100 Green Independence Gate ( Dongnimmun ) February 14, 1969 ₩ 500 Grey Namdaemun February 3, 1967 1962 -- 1969 KOMSCO Series ( in Korean ) 10 jeon 90 × 50 mm Blue `` Bank of Korea '' and value ( Korean ) `` Bank of Korea '' and value ( English ) December 1, 1962 December 1, 1980 None 50 jeon Brown ₩ 10 140 × 63 mm Purple Cheomseongdae Geobukseon September 21, 1962 October 30, 1973 Series II ( 나 ) ₩ 50 149 × 64 mm Green and orange / blue Tapgol Park in Seoul Beacon, Rose of Sharon March 21, 1969 Series II ( 나 ) ₩ 100 156 × 66 mm Green Independence Gate Gyeonghoeru Pavilion at Gyeongbok Palace November 1, 1962 Series II ( 나 ) Sejong the Great Main building of the Bank of Korea August 14, 1965 December 1, 1980 Series III ( 다 ) ₩ 500 165 × 73 mm Brown Namdaemun Geobukseon August 16, 1966 May 10, 1975 Series II ( 나 ) These images are to scale at 0.7 pixels per millimeter. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. With the economic development from the 1960s, the value of the 500 - won notes fell, resulting in a greater use of cashier 's checks with higher fixed denominations as means of payment, as well as an increased use of counterfeited ones. In 1970, the 100 - won notes were replaced by coins, with the same happening to the 50 - won notes in 1972. Higher - denomination notes of 5,000 and 10,000 won were introduced in 1972 and 1973, respectively. The notes incorporated new security features, including watermark, security thread, and ultraviolet response fibres, and were intaglio printed. The release of 10,000 - won notes was planned to be at the same time as the 5,000 - won notes, but problems with the main theme delayed it by a year. Newly designed 500 - won notes were also released in 1973, and the need for a medium denomination resulted in the introduction of 1,000 - won notes in 1975. 1972 -- 1973 Series ( in Korean ) Image Value Dimensions Main color Description Date of BOK series designation Plate produced Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Watermark Issue Withdrawal ₩ 5,000 167 × 77 mm Brown Yi I Main building of the Bank of Korea July 1, 1972 December 1, 1980 Series I ( 가 ) By Thomas de la Rue ₩ 10,000 171 × 81 mm Green Sejong the Great, Rose of Sharon ) Geunjeongjeon at Gyeongbok Palace June 12, 1973 November 10, 1981 Series I ( 가 ) In Japan 1973 -- 1979 Series ( in Korean ) ₩ 500 159 × 69 mm Green and pink Yi Sun - sin, Geobukseon Yi Sun - sin 's Shrine at Hyeonchungsa None September 1, 1973 May 12, 1993 Series III ( 다 ) ₩ 1,000 163 × 73 mm Purple Yi Hwang, Rose of Sharon Dosan Seowon ( Dosan Confucian Academy ) August 14, 1975 Series I ( 가 ) In Japan ₩ 5,000 167 × 77 mm Orange Yi I Ojukheon in Gangneung June 1, 1977 May 12, 1993 Series II ( 나 ) In Japan ₩ 10,000 171 × 81 mm Green Sejong the Great, Water clock Gyeonghoeru Pavilion at Gyeongbok Palace, Rose of Sharon June 15, 1979 May 12, 1993 Series II ( 나 ) In Japan These images are to scale at 0.7 pixels per millimeter. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. In 1982, the 500 - won note was replaced by a coin. The following year, as part of its policy of rationalizing the currency system, the Bank of Korea issued a new set of notes, as well as a new set of coins. Some of the notes ' most notable features were distinguishable marks for the blind under the watermark and the addition of machine - readable language in preparation for mechanization of cash handling. They were also printed on better - quality cotton pulp to reduce the production costs by extending their circulation life. To cope with the deregulation of imports of color printers and the increasing use of computers and scanners, modified 5,000 - and 10,000 - won notes were released between 1994 and 2002 with various new security features, which included color - shifting ink, microprint, segmented metal thread, moiré, and EURion constellation. The latest version of the 5,000 - and 10,000 - won notes are easily identifiable by the copyright information inscribed under the watermark : `` © 한국 은행 '' and year of issue on the obverse, `` © The Bank of Korea '' and year of issue on the reverse. The plates for the 5,000 - won notes were produced in Japan, while the ones for the 1,000 - and 10,000 - won notes were produced by the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation. They were all printed in intaglio. With the release of a new set of notes, no plan has yet been made to withdraw these notes from circulation. 1983 -- 2002 Series ( in Korean ) Image Value Dimensions Main Color Description Date of issue BOK series designation Modification Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Watermark ₩ 1,000 151 × 76 mm Purple Yi Hwang Dosan Seowon ( Dosan Confucian Academy ) Reversed portrait June 11, 1983 Series II ( 나 ) ₩ 5,000 156 × 76 mm Orange Yi I Ojukheon in Gangneung June 11, 1983 Series III ( 다 ) June 12, 2002 Series IV ( 라 ) Color - shifting ink on the dots for blinds, segmented metal thread, copyright inscription ₩ 10,000 161 × 76 mm Green Sejong the Great, Water clock Gyeonghoeru Pavilion at Gyeongbok Palace October 8, 1983 Series III ( 다 ) January 20, 1994 Series IV ( 라 ) Segmented metal thread, microprint under the water clock, moiré on watermark area, intaglio latent image Reversed portrait, Taeguk June 19, 2000 Series V ( 마 ) Color - shifting ink on the dots for blinds, removal of moiré, EURion constellation, copyright inscription These images are to scale at 0.7 pixels per millimeter. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. New series In 2006, it became a major concern that the Korean won banknotes were being counterfeited / forged. Notably, around 50 % of 5,000 - won notes ( worth about US $5 ) were confiscated as counterfeit. This led the government to issue a new series of banknotes, with the 5,000 - won note being the first one to be redesigned. Later in 2007, the 1,000 - and 10,000 - won notes were introduced. On June 23, 2009, the Bank of Korea released the 50,000 - won note. The obverse bears a portrait of Shin Saimdang, a prominent 16th - century artist, calligrapher, and mother of Korean scholar Yulgok, also known as Yi I, who is on the 5,000 - won note. This note is the first Korean banknote to feature the portrait of a woman. The release of the 50,000 - won note stirred some controversy among shop owners and those with visual impairments due to its similarity in color and numerical denomination with the 5,000 - won note. New 100,000 - won notes were also announced, but their release was later cancelled due to the controversy over the banknote 's planned image, featuring the Daedongyeojido map, and not including the disputed Dokdo islands. The banknotes include over 10 security features in each denomination. The 50,000 - won note has 22 security features, the 10,000 - won note 21, the 5,000 - won note 17, and the 1,000 - won note 19. Many modern security features that can be also found in euros, pounds, Canadian dollars, and Japanese yen are included in the banknotes. Some security features inserted in won notes are : Holograms with three - dimensional images that change colors within the metallic foil on the obverse side of the notes ( except ₩ 1,000 ) Watermark portraits of the effigy of the note are visible when held to the light in the white section of the note. Intaglio printing on words and the effigy give off a raised feeling, different from ordinary paper Security thread in the right side of the obverse side with small lettering `` 한국 은행 Bank of Korea '' and the denomination Color - shifting ink on the value number at the back of the note : For the first time in the world, KOMSCO, the Korean mint, inserted a new substance in the notes to detect counterfeits. This technique is being exported to Europe, North America, etc. 2006 -- 2017 Series ( in Korean ) Image Value Dimensions Main color Description Date of issue BOK series designation Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Watermark ₩ 1000 136 × 68 mm Blue Yi Hwang, Myeongryundang in Seonggyungwan, plum flowers `` Gyesangjeonggeodo '' ; a painting Yi Hwang in Dosan Seowon by Jeong Seon Reversed portrait, value January 22, 2007 Series III ( 다 ) ₩ 2000 Gray Seven winter sports events ( Biathlon, Ice hockey, Curling, Speed skating, Ski jumping, Luge and Bobsled ) Songhamaenghodo ( a painting of a tiger and a pine tree by Joseon - era artist Kim Hong - do ) December 11, 2017 Series I ( 가 ) ₩ 5,000 142 × 68 mm Orange Yi I, Ojukheon in Gangneung, black bamboo `` Insects and Plants '', a painting of a watermelon and cockscombs by Yi I 's mother Shin Saimdang January 2, 2006 Series V ( 마 ) ₩ 10,000 148 × 68 mm Green Sejong the Great, Irworobongdo, a folding screen for Joseon - era kings, and text from the second chapter of Yongbieocheonga, the first work of literature written in hangul Globe of Honcheonsigye, Cheonsang Yeolcha Bunyajido C14 star map and reflecting telescope at Bohyeonsan Observatory in the background January 22, 2007 Series VI ( 바 ) ₩ 50,000 154 × 68 mm Yellow Shin Saimdang with Chochungdo - a Folding Screen of Embroidered Plants and Insects ( South Korean National Treasure No. 595 ) in the background Bamboo and a plum tree June 23, 2009 Series I ( 가 ) These images are to scale at 0.7 pixels per millimeter. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. The 1,000 - won note security features Intaglio latent image : From the position of eyes, if one looks askance at the note, `` WON '' appears, due to a special intaglio printing method. Windowed security thread : The security thread is a plastic film with hologram letters. It is exposed at the left side of the portrait on the obverse regularly. Color - shifting ink : Because of special ink, which is mixed with different material having different reflection to the light, the color of face - value number changes from green to blue. See - through register : Patterns are printed in the same place on both sides of the note. Holding the note up to the light, the shapes on the obverse and reverse combine to make a completed taegeuk. Microlettering : Difficult to see with the naked eye, it can be discerned with a magnifier. It appears as a line or dotted line when forged by color printer or color copier. Watermark : Held up to the light, a hidden reverse image portrait appears in the nonimage space on the left side of the obverse, due to the variation in thickness within each note. Special press and soldering : Without holding the note up to the light, the watermark can still be read because of higher differences in paper thickness. Intaglio printing : A special method applying ink to a concave plate, the slightly raised figures produced can be felt. Fluorescent security fiber : Fluorescent fibers are inserted into the paper. Under ultraviolet light, the fluorescent fibers can be seen scattered throughout. Endless pattern : A printing method interlinking the pattern between top and bottom, right and left around the edge of the note Rainbow printing : A printing method whereby color gradients give a rainbow - like effect. The 5,000 - won note security features Hologram ( optically variable device ) : Changing designs are seen at different angles. At different angles, `` map of Korea '', `` face value number, and `` Taegeuk '' ( the Great Absolute ), and `` Four signs of divination '' can be seen. Color - shifting ink : Depending on the angle, the value ( 5,000 ) on the reverse changes between gold and green. Intaglio latent image : From the position of eyes, `` WON '' appears due to intaglio printing. Security thread : Held up to the light, the banknote shows microletters within a thin fluorescent plastic film. See - through register : Patterns are printed in the same place on both sides of the note. Microlettering : Difficult to see, it appears as a line or dotted line when forged by color printer or color copier. Watermark : Held up to the light, a hidden reverse image portrait appears in the nonimage space on the left side of the obverse, due to the variation in thickness within each note. Special press and soldering : Without holding the note up to the light, the watermark can still be read because of higher differences in paper thickness. Watermark bar : Held up to the light, three horizontal dark bars and two bright bars appear, in turn, due to the variation in thickness within each note. Intaglio printing Fluorescent security fiber Endless pattern Rainbow printing The 10,000 - won note security features Hologram : At different angles, `` map of Korea, '' `` face value number '' and `` Taegeuk `` ( the Great Absolute ), '' and `` Four signs of divination '' can be seen. Color shifting ink : Depending on the angle, the value ( 10,000 ) on the reverse changes between gold and green. Intaglio latent image Security thread See - through register Microlettering Watermark Special press and soldering Watermark bar Intaglio printing Fluorescent security fiber Endless pattern Rainbow printing The 50,000 - won note security features Holographic strip ( optically variable device ) : The holographic strip is a special film applied on the left end of the obverse. On the top, middle and bottom of the strip, are three sets of changing images : `` map of Korea, '' `` taegeuk ( two comma roundel ), '' and `` the four trigrams. '' When the banknote is tilted, each of them appears in turn. Between the sets of changing images, the denomination, 50,000, is printed vertically on the strip. On the left top and bottom of the holographic strip, against a background of geometric guilloche, the words `` BANK OF KOREA 50000 '' are printed vertically. A line of a Korean traditional lattice pattern is embossed on the strip 's right end. Moving image security thread ( `` Motion '' ) : The 50,000 won note has a special blue and gray film with numerous Taegeuk patterns all over it. Taegeuk patterns move to the left and right when the note is tilted up and down, while moving up and down when the note is tilted to the left and right. When the note is held up to the light, the movement of the Taegeuk patterns appears more clearly. Novel numbering : The sizes of the digits ( numbers and letters ) used in the serial number increase gradually from left to right. Color - shifting ink : The color of the face value number ( 50,000 ) on the top right of the reverse changes between green and magenta when the note is tilted. Watermark : Held up to the light, a hidden portrait ( of Shin Saimdang ), produced by using the variation in thickness of the note paper, appears in the non-image area on the left side of the obverse. Special press and soldering : A kind of watermark, it isproduced using the maximized thickness variations in the note paper. It is located on the right bottom of the watermark and if one holds the banknote up to a light source or looks at it with the naked eye, the number `` 5 '' appears within the pentagon. Intaglio latent image : If the note is held horizontally and tilted at eye level, the number `` 5 '' appears within the intaglio - printed pentagon. Security thread : If the note is held up to the light, the microletters `` 한국 은행 BANK OF KOREA 50000 '' are printed within a special film hidden on the right side of the portrait. Intaglio printing : Granular texture can be felt when touching the portrait of Shin Saimdang, the Wolmaedo painting, letters, five lines of tactile marks and denomination numbers. See - through register : When the note is held up to the light, the round images on the obverse and reverse are combined, appearing as a two - comma roundel ( Taegeuk ). Endless pattern Rainbow printing Fluorescent security ink and fiber : When the note is illuminated with ultraviolet light, fluorescent green ( security ink ) on the grape painting and short fluorescent red, blue and green lines ( fluorescent security fibers ) show all over the banknote. Filter through latent image : Through a specially produced filter, the hidden face value number `` 50000 '' is seen in the nonimage area of the reverse. Microlettering : Intaglio - printed microletters ( consonants of Korean alphabets and `` BANK OF KOREA '' ) and offset - printed microletters ( `` 50000 '' ) can be discerned with a magnifying glass. Future of the South Korean won As the South Korean economy is evolving through the use of electronic payments, coins of the South Korean won are becoming less used by consumers. The Bank of Korea began a trial which would result in the total cessation of the production of coins of the South Korean won. Currency production The Bank of Korea is the only institution in South Korea with the right to print banknotes and mint coins. The banknotes and coins are printed at KOMSCO, a government - owned corporation, under the guidance of the Bank of Korea. After the new banknotes and coins are printed / minted, they are bundled or rolled and shipped to the headquarters of the Bank of Korea. When delivered, they are deposited inside the bank 's vault, ready to be distributed to commercial banks when requested. Every year, around Seollal and Chuseok, two major Korean holidays, the Bank of Korea distributes large amounts of its currency to most of the commercial banks in South Korea, which are then given to their customers upon request. Current exchange rates Current KRW exchange rates From Google Finance : AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD CNY INR From Yahoo ! Finance : AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD CNY INR From XE : AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD CNY INR From OANDA : AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD CNY INR From fxtop.com : AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD CNY INR South Korean won to U.S. dollar exchange rate South Korean won to euro exchange rate See also South Korea portal Numismatics portal Economy of South Korea History of the Korean currencies References Jump up ^ `` won ''. OxfordDictionaries.com. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 8 January 2017. Jump up ^ Bank of Korea. `` 화폐 < 홍보 교육 자료 < 우리나라 화폐 단위 변경 한국 은행 홈페이지. # 1 '' ( in Korean ). Retrieved 2012 - 11 - 24. 한글 로만 표기 '' → Translation : `` Spelling in hangul only Jump up ^ Linzmayer, Owen ( 2012 ). `` South Korea ''. The Banknote Book. San Francisco, CA : www.BanknoteNews.com. Jump up ^ Kurt Schuler ( 29 February 2004 ). `` Tables of modern monetary history : Asia ''. Currency Boards and Dollarization. Archived from the original on 2007 - 01 - 12. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 16. ^ Jump up to : `` Currency Issue System ''. Bank of Korea. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 09. ^ Jump up to : ( 1 ) ^ Jump up to : ( 2 ) Jump up ^ ( 3 ) Jump up ^ 부산 본부 ( 12 December 2006 ). 새 10 원 동전, 12. 18 ( 월 ) 부터 발행 ( in Korean ). Bank of Korea. Archived from the original ( hwp ) on March 12, 2007. Retrieved 2006 - 12 - 12. Jump up ^ `` New W10 Coin to Debut ''. The Korea Times. 13 January 2006. Archived from the original on January 15, 2006. Retrieved 2006 - 12 - 11. Jump up ^ `` New 10 - won Coins to Debut ''. KBS Global. 10 August 2006. Archived from the original on March 21, 2008. Retrieved 2006 - 12 - 11. Jump up ^ 1 원 짜리 만한 10 원 동전 18 일 나온다 ( in Korean ). Daum Media. 11 December 2006. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 2006 - 12 - 11. Jump up ^ `` New 10 - won Coins to Debut Next Week ''. KBS Global. 11 December 2006. Archived from the original on 18 June 2008. Retrieved 2006 - 12 - 12. Jump up ^ Bank of Korea Mint Sets - 한국 은행 민트 세트 Dokdo Research ( dokdoresearch.com ). Retrieved on 2017 - 07 - 05. Jump up ^ `` Coins Return to the Bank ''. The Chosun Ilbo. 19 February 1998. Archived from the original on September 9, 2004. Retrieved 2007 - 03 - 26. Jump up ^ `` Won - Quando 100 é menor que 0.25 ''. Thiago Correra. 14 November 2010. Retrieved 2011 - 08 - 20. ^ Jump up to : `` Brief History of current Korea notes in circulation ; 10,000 won note '' ( Flash and HTML ). Bank of Korea. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 13. ^ Jump up to : `` Brief History of current Korea notes in circulation ; 5,000 - won note '' ( Flash and HTML ). Bank of Korea. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 09. ^ Jump up to : `` Brief History of current Korea notes in circulation ; 1,000 won note '' ( Flash and HTML ). Bank of Korea. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 09. Jump up ^ Bank of Korea ( 26 July 2006 ). `` Issue of New 10,000 - won Notes and 1,000 - won Notes on January 22, 2007 '' ( PDF ). Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 14 June 2007. Retrieved 2006 - 10 - 17. Jump up ^ ( 4 ) Jump up ^ `` W50, 000 Bill Unveiled ''. english.chosun.com. 2009 - 02 - 26. Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 13. Jump up ^ `` ANN ''. Asianewsnet.net. Retrieved 2013 - 07 - 26. Jump up ^ `` 50,000 - Won Banknote to Be Issued in May ''. Koreatimes.co.kr. 2009 - 01 - 27. Retrieved 2012 - 09 - 01. Jump up ^ `` 50,000 - Won Banknote to Be Issued in May ''. Koreatimes.co.kr. 2009 - 01 - 27. Retrieved 2014 - 02 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Debut of W100, 000 Note Delayed Indefinitely ''. English.donga.com. 2009 - 01 - 01. Retrieved 2014 - 02 - 13. Jump up ^ `` SKorea shelves new banknote ''. News.asiaone.com. 2008 - 12 - 18. Retrieved 2014 - 02 - 13. Jump up ^ ( 5 ) Jump up ^ `` Currency < Currency in circulation < Introduction to Banknotes THE BANK OF KOREA. # 2 ''. Bok.or.kr. Retrieved 2012 - 09 - 01. Jump up ^ Security features of the 1,000 won banknote The Bank of Korea ( www.bok.or.kr ). Retrieved on 2014 - 08 - 25. Jump up ^ Security features of the 5,000 won banknote The Bank of Korea ( www.bok.or.kr ). Retrieved on 2014 - 08 - 25. Jump up ^ Security features of the 10,000 won banknote The Bank of Korea ( www.bok.or.kr ). Retrieved on 2014 - 08 - 25. Jump up ^ Security features of the 50,000 won banknote The Bank of Korea ( www.bok.or.kr ). Retrieved on 2014 - 08 - 25 Jump up ^ South Korea begins coinless society trial BBC ( www.bbc.com ). April 19, 2017. Retrieved on 2017 - 07 - 14. Krause, Chester L. ; Clifford Mishler ( 2003 ). 2004 Standard Catalog of World Coins : 1901 -- Present. Colin R. Bruce II ( senior editor ) ( 31st ed. ). Krause Publications. ISBN 0873495934. Cuhaj, George S. ( editor ) ( 2005 ). Standard Catalog of World Paper Money : Modern Issues 1961 - Date ( 11th ed. ). Krause Publications. ISBN 0 - 89689 - 160 - 7. CS1 maint : Extra text : authors list ( link ) Pick, Albert ( 1996 ). Standard Catalog of World Paper Money : General Issues to 1960. Colin R. Bruce II and Neil Shafer ( editors ) ( 8th ed. ). Krause Publications. ISBN 0 - 87341 - 469 - 1. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Money of South Korea. `` BOK Announces Smaller Banknotes ''. The Chosun Ilbo. 2005 - 07 - 21. Archived from the original on 2006 - 10 - 26. Retrieved 2006 - 10 - 17. `` New W5, 000 Ready for Release on Jan. 2 ''. The Chosun Ilbo. 2005 - 12 - 13. Archived from the original on 2006 - 10 - 26. Retrieved 2006 - 10 - 17. `` New W1, 000 Note Unveiled ''. The Chosun Ilbo. 2006 - 01 - 17. Archived from the original on 2006 - 10 - 26. Retrieved 2006 - 10 - 17. `` Dollar Plummets to Pre-Crisis Level Against Won ''. The Chosun Ilbo. 2006 - 01 - 25. Archived from the original on 2006 - 10 - 26. Retrieved 2006 - 10 - 17. `` New W5, 000 Bills Forgery - but not Water - Proof ''. The Chosun Ilbo. 2006 - 01 - 25. Archived from the original on 2006 - 10 - 26. Retrieved 2006 - 10 - 17. `` New W10, 000 Note Unveiled ''. The Chosun Ilbo. 2006 - 05 - 18. Archived from the original on 2006 - 07 - 09. Retrieved 2006 - 10 - 17. New South Korean won banknotes, information page of BOK 's new notes Pronunciation of Won at freedictionary.com Preceded by : Korean yen Ratio : at par Currency of South Korea 1945 -- 1953 Succeeded by : South Korean hwan Reason : inflation Ratio : 1 hwan = 100 won Preceded by : South Korean hwan Reason : inflation Ratio : 1 won = 10 hwan Currency of South Korea 1962 -- Succeeded by : Current Economy of South Korea History Chaebol 1997 Asian financial crisis Four Asian Tigers Five - Year Plans of South Korea Heavy - Chemical Industry Drive Miracle on the Han River Currency Won ( 1945 -- 1953 ) Hwan ( 1953 -- 1962 ) Won ( 1962 -- ) Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation Bank of Korea Industry and business Automotive industry Companies Energy Exports Financial services Fishing industry Markets Real estate Rice production Trade unions Korea National Oil Corporation Government agencies Fair Trade Commission Korea Forest Service Financial Services Commission Financial Supervisory Service Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation National Information & Credit Evaluation Korea Investment Corporation Korea Transportation Safety Authority Small and Medium Business Administration Employment and tax Companies Infrastructure and transport Trans Korea Pipeline South -- North Pipeline Korea Driving license Rankings International rankings Regions by GDP Finance and banking Korea Exchange KOSDAQ KRX 100 KOSPI Banks Free Trade Agreements ASEAN EFTA India Peru European Union United States Australia Vietnam Canada Energy National RD&D Organisation for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Programme Nuclear power Nuclear research programs Other European Union Chamber of Commerce in Korea Korea Financial Investment Association Kimchi bond Korea Non-Life Insurance Association Korea Oil & Petroleum Association See also : Economy of North Korea Historical currencies of Korea Mun 1633 -- 1892 Yang 1892 -- 1902 Won 1902 -- 10 Yen 1902 -- 45 North Korean old won 1947 -- 59 North Korean new won 1959 -- 2009 North Korean third won since 2009 South Korean old won 1945 -- 53 South Korean hwan 1953 -- 62 South Korean new won since 1962 Etymology and history of the Korean currencies Currencies of Asia Central Kazakhstani tenge Kyrgyzstani som Tajikistani somoni Turkmenistan manat Uzbekistani soʻm East Chinese yuan Hong Kong dollar Japanese yen North Korean won South Korean won Macanese pataca Mongolian tögrög New Taiwan dollar unrecognized North Russian ruble South Afghan afghani Bangladeshi taka Bhutanese ngultrum Indian rupee Maldivian rufiyaa Nepalese rupee Pakistani rupee Sri Lankan rupee Pound sterling British Indian Ocean Territory U.S. dollar British Indian Ocean Territory Southeast Brunei dollar Burmese kyat Cambodian riel East Timorese centavo Indonesian rupiah Lao kip Malaysian ringgit Philippine peso ( piso ) Singapore dollar Thai baht U.S. dollar East Timor Vietnamese đồng West Abkhazian apsar unrecognized Armenian dram Artsakh dram unrecognized Azerbaijani manat Bahraini dinar Egyptian pound Gaza Strip Euro Cyprus Georgian lari Iranian rial Iraqi dinar Israeli new shekel Jordanian dinar Kuwaiti dinar Lebanese pound Omani rial Russian ruble ( Abkhazia ( unrecognized ) and South Ossetia ( unrecognized ) ) Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Syrian pound Turkish lira UAE dirham Yemeni rial Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=South_Korean_won&oldid=817745348 '' Categories : ISO 4217 Currencies of Korea Currencies of Asia Circulating currencies 1962 in South Korea 1962 establishments in South Korea Finance in South Korea Government of South Korea Hidden categories : CS1 Korean - language sources ( ko ) All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from September 2010 Articles with dead external links from September 2012 CS1 uses Korean - language script ( ko ) Articles with dead external links from December 2017 Articles with permanently dead external links Articles containing Korean - language text All articles with vague or ambiguous time Vague or ambiguous time from February 2016 Articles with Korean - language external links All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from December 2012 CS1 maint : Extra text : authors list Talk Contents About Wikipedia Afrikaans Azərbaycanca Bân - lâm - gú Български Català Čeština Dansk Deutsch Eesti Español Esperanto فارسی Français 한국어 हिन्दी Hrvatski বিষ্ণুপ্রিয়া মণিপুরী Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Коми Lietuvių Magyar Македонски मराठी მარგალური Bahasa Melayu Монгол Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk ਪੰਜਾਬੀ Polski Português Română Русский Саха тыла Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Tagalog ไทย Тоҷикӣ Türkçe Türkmençe Українська اردو Tiếng Việt Yorùbá 粵語 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 30 December 2017, at 09 : 13. 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Question: what is the money called in south korea
Answer: won; The won; won; The won