Bank of Korea's returns on foreign assets near $12.5 bil. in 2025
Korea's central bank posted nearly 17 trillion won ($12.5 billion) in returns from foreign assets in 2025, helped by a weaker won and a rally in stock markets, data from the bank showed Sunday. The Bank of Korea (BOK) recorded 16.9 trillion won in returns on foreign assets last year, up 32 percent from a year earlier, according to data submitted to a lawmaker from the main opposition People Power…
The Bank of Korea recorded nearly 17 trillion won, or $12.5 billion, in returns from foreign assets in 2025, data revealed on Sunday. This significant increase was attributed to the weaker Korean won and a surge in global stock markets, according to figures submitted to a lawmaker from the main opposition People Power Party.
The Bank of Korea reported 16.9 trillion won in returns on foreign assets in the previous year, marking a 32 percent rise from the previous year, as highlighted in the bank's 2025 annual report released in March. The weaker won against the dollar and a thriving stock market environment were the primary drivers behind the enhanced net income linked to foreign assets, as stated by the BOK.
Returns on foreign assets had a steady upward trend, rising from around 8 trillion won per year between 2016 and 2018 to 13.8 trillion won in 2021. However, the upward trajectory halted in 2022 when returns plummeted to 3.9 trillion won. The situation improved in subsequent years, with won-denominated returns from securities holdings, interest on bank deposits, dividends, and stock sales rebounding to 4.9 trillion won in 2023 and surging to 12.8 trillion won in 2024.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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