Analysts say that if the won falls to 1,500 against the US dollar, an important psychological threshold not seen since 2009, the South Korean authorities may step up their efforts to defend the local currency. Minhyeok Lee, an economist at Kookmin Bank, said that Korea's National Pension Service, which recently began selling dollars again to support the won, is likely to be more active around 1,480-1,500. The exchange rate was around 1,465 on Thursday.

Analysts say that if the won falls to 1,500 against the US dollar, an important psychological threshold not seen since 2009, the South Korean authorities may step up their efforts to defend the local currency. Minhyeok Lee, an economist at Kookmin Bank, said that Korea's National Pension Service, which recently began selling dollars again to support the won, is likely to be more active around 1,480-1,500. The exchange rate was around 1,465 on Thursday.