South Korea is about to do something it has never done before: let the world trade its currency around the clock. Starting July 6, the dollar-won spot market will operate nearly 24 hours a day, five days a week, a move the Ministry of Economy and Finance says is already drawing increased attention from global investors.
The shift isn’t just a technical upgrade. It’s the centerpiece of South Korea’s years-long campaign to join the ranks of MSCI’s developed-market index, a classification that has eluded Asia’s fourth-largest economy for decades.
What the new trading hours actually look like
Currently, dollar-won trading operates from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Korean time. Under the new system, trading will run from 6 a.m. Monday through 6 a.m. Saturday during New York daylight saving time.
A trial period kicks off on June 29, giving market participants a week to stress-test systems before the official launch. Major Korean banks, including Hana Bank, are reportedly staffing up and building out operational teams to handle the extended shifts.
