The South Korean won weakened to around 1,480 per dollar, pulling back from its strongest level since March, as foreign equity outflows and cautious global risk sentiment weighed on the currency. Foreign investors turned net sellers of local equities, offloading KRW 376.6 billion and effectively offsetting the recent stabilization that followed a sharp USD 23.8 billion outflow in March. This renewed selling pressure reinforced near-term demand for the US dollar and capped further gains in the won.
At the same time, geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East persisted, with US–Iran negotiations still ongoing and no definitive agreement in place, while elevated oil prices continued to strain South Korea’s economy given its heavy dependence on energy imports. Domestic sentiment also weakened further: consumer confidence fell to its lowest level since May 2025, and both manufacturing and financial conditions remained subdued. Together, these factors underscored investor caution and left limited support for fresh capital inflows.