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Singapore DollarThe currency of South Korea 대한민국
South Korean
WonKRW
The currency of South Korea is the South Korean won (KRW), written ₩ and issued by the Bank of Korea. It has no subunit in daily use, so prices are whole won: one won costs ₹0.0795 at our selling rate right now.
- Code
- KRW
- Symbol
- ₩원
- Smallest unit
- 1 won
- In use since
- 1962
What is the currency of South Korea?
The currency of South Korea is the South Korean won, code KRW, written ₩ or 원. It has no subunit in daily use, so prices are whole won. The Bank of Korea in Seoul issues the won, and KOMSCO, the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation, makes the notes and coins. The current won began on 10 June 1962, replacing the hwan, and since December 1997 it has floated freely, so against the rupee it moves with the market: on 5 Oct 2026, one won was worth about ₹0.0795 at our selling rate. Whether you search for Korean currency, Korea currency or the currency of Korea, the answer is this won, and not the North Korean won, which is a different currency.
South Korean Won at a glance
- Currency
- Korean won원, from the hanja 圓, meaning round
- Code
- KRWNumeric code 410
- Symbol
- ₩, or 원English-language guides write ₩ or KRW before the figure
- Subunit
- None in daily useThe jeon, a hundredth of a won, appears only in foreign exchange rates
- Issuer
- Bank of KoreaKOMSCO makes the notes and coins
- Introduced
- 10 June 1962This won replaced the hwan, at one won for 10 hwan
- Exchange rate
- FloatingMarket-set since December 1997
- Used in
- South KoreaNorth Korea has its own separate won, code KPW
- Banknotes
- 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 50,000 wonOne family of notes, issued from 2006 to 2009
- Coins
- 10, 50, 100 and 500 wonThe 500 won coin began replacing the 500 won note in 1982
South Korea currency notes and coins
Korean currency comes as four banknotes, from 1,000 to 50,000 won, and coins of 10, 50, 100 and 500 won. The 5,000 won note started the current family on 2 January 2006, the 1,000 and 10,000 won notes followed on 22 January 2007, and the 50,000 won note arrived on 23 June 2009. Each note is shown with what it costs in rupees at our selling rate today.
- Bank of KoreaOne thousand won₩1000
One thousand won ₩1,000
≈ ₹79.50 today- Colour
- Blue
- Front
- Yi Hwang, known as Toegye (1501 to 1570)
- Back
- The painting Gyesangjeonggeodo
- Bank of KoreaFive thousand won₩5000
Five thousand won ₩5,000
≈ ₹397.50 today- Colour
- Red and yellow
- Front
- Yi I, known as Yulgok (1536 to 1584), with Ojukheon and black bamboo
- Back
- Plant and insect paintings by his mother, Shin Saimdang: watermelons and cockscombs
- Bank of KoreaTen thousand won₩10000
Ten thousand won ₩10,000
≈ ₹795.00 today- Colour
- Green
- Front
- King Sejong the Great (1397 to 1450), with the Irworobongdo screen of the sun, moon and five peaks
- Back
- Astronomical instruments, among them the Honcheonui armillary sphere
- Bank of KoreaFifty thousand won₩50000
Fifty thousand won ₩50,000
≈ ₹3,975.00 today- Colour
- Yellow
- Front
- Shin Saimdang (1504 to 1551), with her ink grapes and eggplant paintings
- Back
- Her paintings of a plum tree and moon, and of bamboo in the wind
Coins, in won
A crane on the 500 won, Admiral Yi Sun-sin on the 100 won, a stalk of rice on the 50 won and the Dabotap pagoda at Bulguksa on the 10 won, which is copper-clad aluminium. The Bank of Korea also lists a 5 won coin with a turtle ship and a 1 won coin with a Rose of Sharon.
- 1010 won
≈ ₹0.79 - 5050 won
≈ ₹3.97 - 100100 won
≈ ₹7.95 - 500500 won
≈ ₹39.75
Sources: Bank of Korea, banknote designs; Bank of Korea coin pages; colours as printed. Rupee values at our selling rate, 10:25 AM IST, 5 Oct 2026.
Issued on 23 June 2009
Issued on 2 January 2006, with her paintings on the back
Both are current notes today
A mother and her son in one wallet
Two South Korean banknotes carry members of one family: the 50,000 won shows the artist Shin Saimdang, and the 5,000 won shows her son, Yi I, known as Yulgok. Both were born at Ojukheon, a house in Gangneung, and it is printed on his note.
The first 5,000 won
The first 5,000 won note is issued on 1 July 1972, with Yi I on it.
A new 5,000 won
The new note shows Yi I on the front, with Ojukheon, where he was born, and black bamboo. Its back carries his mother's plant and insect paintings: watermelons and cockscombs.
The 50,000 won arrives
Shin Saimdang, who was born at Ojukheon, is on the front of the new 50,000 won note. Wikipedia describes her as the first woman on a South Korean banknote.
Both notes are in circulation
The 5,000 won and the 50,000 won are both current notes, so a mother and her son can sit in the same wallet, ₩55,000 between them.
Sources: Bank of Korea, banknote design, issue and history pages; Wikipedia, "South Korean won", "Shin Saimdang" and "Yi I".
A won that floats free
The won has no fixed rate. The market has set its price since December 1997, so its price in rupees can change from one day to the next.
No fixed rate since 1997
The won has floated freely since December 1997, during the Asian financial crisis and after an agreement with the IMF. The market sets its price every day, and the rupee price moves with it.
One country, one won
The won is used only in South Korea. North Korea has its own, separate won, with the code KPW, which is a different currency.
A small unit, big numbers
One won is worth a fraction of a rupee, so South Korean prices run into thousands. The smallest note, the 1,000 won, is about ₹{X:1000}, and the largest, the 50,000 won, about ₹{X:50000}.
One unit in rupees · our selling rate, 5 Oct 2026
The Korean won since 1962
South Korea has counted in won since 1962, and its money has changed a good deal since, from notes printed in England to a new family of notes in 2006 to 2009. What changed along the way, in eight entries.
- EntrySouth Korea
The Bank of Korea opens
On 12 June the Bank of Korea is founded in Seoul, taking over from the Bank of Joseon. The Korean War begins 13 days later.
- EntrySouth Korea
The hwan replaces the won
On 15 February the hwan replaces the first won, at one hwan for 100 won.
- EntrySouth Korea
The current won begins
On 10 June the won returns and replaces the hwan, at one won for 10 hwan. Its first notes, of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 won, are printed in England by Thomas De La Rue.
Launch - EntrySouth Korea
The 5,000 won note
On 1 July the first 5,000 won note is issued, with Yi I on it. The first 10,000 won note follows on 12 June 1973.
- EntrySouth Korea
The 500 won coin
On 12 June the 500 won coin begins to replace the 500 won note, which had been issued on 1 September 1973. A new set of smaller coins follows on 15 January 1983.
- EntrySouth Korea
The won floats
In December, during the Asian financial crisis and after an agreement with the IMF, the won is allowed to float. The market has set its price ever since.
Float - EntrySouth Korea
A new family of notes
On 2 January a new 5,000 won note starts the current family. The 1,000 and 10,000 won notes follow on 22 January 2007.
- EntrySouth Korea
The 50,000 won note
On 23 June the 50,000 won note is issued with Shin Saimdang on it, completing the family and becoming the largest note.
New note
Sources: Bank of Korea, banknote, coin, history and design pages; Planet Banknote, "South Korea banknotes"; Wikipedia, "South Korean won", "Shin Saimdang" and "Yi I".
Won and rupees side by side
Worked out at our selling rate at 10:25 AM IST on 5 Oct 2026. For the live rate on any amount, use the KRW to INR or INR to KRW converter.
| You pay | You get |
|---|---|
| ₹5,000 | ₩ 62,893 |
| ₹10,000 | ₩ 125,786 |
| ₹25,000 | ₩ 314,465 |
| ₹50,000 | ₩ 628,931 |
| ₹1,00,000 | ₩ 1,257,862 |
| ₹2,00,000 | ₩ 2,515,723 |
| You buy | It costs |
|---|---|
| ₩ 10,000 | ₹795.00 |
| ₩ 50,000 | ₹3,975.00 |
| ₩ 100,000 | ₹7,950.00 |
| ₩ 500,000 | ₹39,750.00 |
| ₩ 1,000,000 | ₹79,500.00 |
| ₩ 2,000,000 | ₹1,59,000.00 |
Spending won in South Korea
Three things about Korean money that help on the first day.
Carry some cash
Guides suggest keeping about 20,000 to 100,000 won in cash, roughly ₹1,590.00 to ₹7,950.00, for traditional markets, street-food stalls, coin lockers, some local buses and T-money top-ups. Some stalls are cash only.
₩20,000 to ₩100,000 in cashVisa and Mastercard work in most shops
Amex and Discover are accepted in fewer places. Subway and bus gates need a Korean transit card such as T-money, and foreign cards cannot be tapped on them.
Visa · Mastercard · T-moneyATMs and the tourist card
Bank and convenience-store ATMs take foreign cards at Global or foreign-card machines, and some have hour limits and a fee per withdrawal. WOWPASS is a prepaid tourist card that can be topped up from a Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay card.
ATM · WOWPASSTaking Korean won from India
The Reserve Bank of India's rules apply to every currency, and the won is no exception.
Up to the equivalent of USD 3,000 per trip can leave India as Korean won notes. The rest goes on a forex card or as a bank transfer.
Every resident can send up to USD 250,000 abroad each financial year under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme, travel included.
Tax collected at source applies once your foreign-exchange purchases in a financial year cross ₹10 lakh: nil when an education loan pays, 2% for self-funded education and medical treatment, and 20% for travel and everything else. It is credited against your income tax when you file.
The Korean won is on our booking form. Send your amount and the desk confirms your exact rate before anything is booked.
Book Korean Won→Korean won questions
The questions people type about the South Korean won, answered in full, in three groups.
The basics
8 questionsWhat is the currency of South Korea?
The currency of South Korea is the South Korean won, code KRW, written ₩ or 원. The Bank of Korea in Seoul issues it, and the same won is used across the country, while North Korea has its own separate won, code KPW.
What is the full form of KRW in currency?
KRW stands for Korean Won: KR is South Korea's two-letter country code and W is for won, following the ISO 4217 standard, and its numeric code is 410. That is the KRW full form and the KRW currency full form alike, and on a price list or a forex card it always means the South Korean won.
What is the Korean won symbol?
The Korean won symbol is ₩, and in Korean the won is written 원. English-language guides put ₩ or KRW before the figure, as in ₩50,000. People also search for it as the South Korea currency symbol, the Korean money symbol or the Korean currency sign, and all of them mean ₩.
South Korea ki currency kya hai?
South Korea ki currency South Korean won (KRW) hai, jise Korean won bhi kehte hain. Won ka sau-vaan hissa jeon hai, par woh roz ke len-den mein nahi chalta, isliye daam poore won mein likhe jaate hain. 5 Oct 2026 ko ek won lagbhag ₹0.0795 ka tha, hamare selling rate par, aur South Korea ki currency ka symbol ₩ hai.
What is the Korean currency name?
The Korean currency name, like the South Korea currency name, is the won, in full the South Korean won. So if you typed what is Korean currency, the answer is the won, written 원 in Korean. It is also searched as South Korean currency, Korea currency or the currency of Korea, and all of them mean this one won, whose plural is also won, never wons.
Why is it called the won?
Won is the Korean word 원, from the hanja 圓, which means round. The full Korean name is 대한민국 원, the Republic of Korea won.
How many jeon make one won?
One won is 100 jeon, but the jeon is not used in daily transactions and appears only in foreign exchange rates. The ISO 4217 list gives the won no decimals, so prices are whole won and the smallest note is the 1,000 won.
Who issues the won?
The Bank of Korea issues the won. It was established in Seoul on 12 June 1950, taking over from the Bank of Joseon, and KOMSCO, the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation, makes the notes and coins.
Value and history
7 questionsIs the won fixed or floating?
The won floats. Since December 1997, during the Asian financial crisis and after an agreement with the IMF, the market has set its price, so its price in rupees moves with it.
When did the current won start?
The current won began on 10 June 1962, replacing the hwan at one won for 10 hwan. It is the second South Korean won: the hwan had replaced the first won on 15 February 1953, and the first notes of 1962 were printed in England by Thomas De La Rue.
Which Korean banknotes are in use?
Four: the 1,000 won (blue), 5,000 won (red and yellow), 10,000 won (green) and 50,000 won (yellow). The 5,000 won was issued on 2 January 2006, the 1,000 and 10,000 won on 22 January 2007 and the 50,000 won on 23 June 2009. All four are 68 mm high and grow in length from 136 mm for the 1,000 won to 154 mm for the 50,000 won.
Who is on Korean money?
Four historical figures are on the notes: Yi Hwang on the 1,000 won, Yi I on the 5,000 won, King Sejong the Great on the 10,000 won and Shin Saimdang on the 50,000 won. Admiral Yi Sun-sin is on the 100 won coin.
Are Gyeongbokgung or N Seoul Tower on Korean money?
Neither is on any current note or coin, according to the Bank of Korea's design lists. Older 10,000 won notes did carry Gyeongbokgung buildings, such as Geunjeongjeon on the note of 12 June 1973, but today's 10,000 won shows King Sejong the Great.
Who are Shin Saimdang and Yi I on the notes?
Shin Saimdang (1504 to 1551) was a Joseon artist and writer, born at Ojukheon in Gangneung, and she is on the 50,000 won note issued on 23 June 2009. Her son Yi I (1536 to 1584), known as Yulgok, is on the 5,000 won, which has her plant and insect paintings on its back. Wikipedia describes her as the first woman on a South Korean banknote.
Is North Korea's won the same currency?
No. North Korea has its own separate won, code KPW, while the South Korean won (KRW) is used only in South Korea. A price quoted in Korean won for a trip to Seoul means KRW.
Buying from India
2 questionsHow much Korean won can I take out of India?
Up to the equivalent of USD 3,000 per trip in currency notes. Anything above that goes on a forex card or as a bank transfer, all within the USD 250,000 a year Liberalised Remittance Scheme limit.
How do I get Korean won for a trip to South Korea?
Order them before you fly. Matrix Forex, an RBI-authorised Category-II dealer, has the Korean won on its booking form: send your amount through the booking bar at the top of this page and the desk confirms your exact rate before anything is booked. For the live rate on any amount, see the KRW to INR converter.