Exclusive-Bank of Korea board member says won moves faster than expected

Bank of Korea board member Hwang Kunil has cautioned that the recent rapid pace of the South Korean won's movement has been faster than anticipated, highlighting a need for increased vigilance over the currency. In an interview with Reuters, Hwang emphasized the importance of monitoring volatility and the speed of the exchange rate's changes, rather than solely focusing on its level.

The central banker, who is known for his dovish stance, noted that the won's recent gains have been driven by increased dollar inflows from the global artificial intelligence (AI) industry, which is boosting demand for specialized memory chips produced by major Korean chipmakers such as SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics. Despite the strong performance of the currency, Hwang remains cautious, as the positive economic impact has not been evenly distributed.

While export momentum is expected to continue, private consumption and small and medium-sized enterprises are experiencing slower growth due to elevated delinquency rates and weak domestic demand. Hwang is optimistic about the potential for a larger-than-anticipated current account surplus, projecting it at nearly $500 billion, although a more modest $450 billion figure was recently projected by the Bank of Korea (BOK).