KRW – South Korean Won

Monetary System

1948: 1 South Korean won = 100 jeon
15.02.1953: 1 South Korean hwan = 100 jeon
09.06.1962: 1 new South Korean won (KRW) = 100 jeon

Bank of Chosen
朝鮮銀行

The Bank of Korea was founded in July 1909. In February 1911, the Bank of Korea was renamed the Bank of Chosen (Chosen being the Japanese name, at that time, for Korea), which was the central Bank of Korea under Japanese rule, and of South Korea under American occupation.

2006 – 2009 Issues

These notes have Western prefixes/suffixes and serial numbers, as well as improved security features, including Omron rings on all denominations. The single-character suffix is the primary sort, then the two-character prefix, with the letters G and I omitted from both.

Description: 1,000.00 KRW – Korean Won Size: 136 x 68 mm

Blue, purple, and green. Front: Korean text; t’aeguk (two-comma roundel) as registration device; mume (Japanese apricot) tree branch and blossoms; Myungryundang lecture hall building in Daegu; Confucian scholar Toegye Yi Hwang wearing hanbok, traditional Korean dress. Back: English text; bank logo (hibiscus flower); Gaesang junggeodo watercolor painting of landscape with mountains, trees, water, and boat; t’aeguk. Windowed security thread. Watermark: Toegye Yi Hwang and electrotype 1000. Printer: 한국조폐공사 제조 (KOMSCO). 136 x 68 mm. Paper.

Description: 5,000.00 KRW – Korean Won Size: 142 x 68 mm

Red, yellow, green, and blue. Front: Korean text; round holographic patch; t’aeguk (two-comma roundel) as registration device; ojuk (black bamboos); Ojukheon (Mongryoungsil) building; Confucian scholar Yulgok Yi I wearing hanbok, traditional Korean dress. Back: English text; bank logo (hibiscus flower); swallowtail butterfly; watermelons; cockscomb flowers; katydid cricket; t’aeguk. Solid security thread with printed 한국은행Bank of Korea5000. Watermark: Yulgok Yi I and electrotype 5000. Printer: 한국조폐공사 제조 (KOMSCO). 142 x 68 mm. Paper.

Description: 10,000.00 KRW – Korean Won Size: 148 x 68 mm

Green and blue. Front: Korean text; square holographic patch; t’aeguk (two-comma roundel) as registration device; Ilwolohbongdo painting of the sun, moon, and five mountain peaks; Korean text of Yongbiacheonga (Songs of Flying Dragons); King Sejong the Great wearing hanbok, traditional Korean dress. Back: English text; bank logo (hibiscus flower); celestial globe; star charts; modern telescope; t’aeguk. Solid security thread with printed 한국은행Bank of Korea10000. Watermark: King Sejong the Great and electrotype 10000. Printer: 한국조폐공사 제조 (KOMSCO). 148 x 68 mm. Paper.

Description: 50,000.00 KRW – Korean Won Size: 154 x 68 mm

Yellow and green. Front: Korean text; t’aeguk (two-comma roundel) as registration device; tree branches; Mukpododo painting of grape leaf; berries; Chochungdo-subyeong folding screen painting of eggplant; painter and author Shin Saim-dang wearing hanbok, traditional Korean dress. Back (vertical): English text; poongjukdo painting of bamboo tree; Wolmaedo painting of Japanese apricot tree; t’aeguk. Holographic stripe with demetalized Bank of Korea 50000. Windowed Motion security thread. Solid security thread with printed 한국은행 Bank of Korea 50000. Watermark: Shin Saim-dang and electrotype 5 within pentagon. Printer: 한국조폐공사 제조 (KOMSCO). 154 x 68 mm. Paper.

2018 Numismatic Products

On 11 December 2017, the Bank of Korea introduced 2.8 million new 2,000-won notes to commemorate the Winter Olympic Games to be held 9 – 25 February 2018 in PyeongChang. Not intended for circulation, individual notes were packaged in a folder and sold for 8,000 won each. The bank also sold uncut pairs and sheets of 24 notes. Kim Hong-do’s 18th-century painting was chosen to adorn the back because Soohorang, the 2018 Olympic mascot, is a tiger.

Description: 2,000.00 KRW – Korean Won Size: 140 x 75 mm

Black, blue, and purple. Front: Korean text; Korean text; PyeongChang 2018 Olympic logo; athletes from winter sports events (biathlon, ice hockey, curling, speed skating, ski jumping, luge, and bobsled); Gangwon Province mountain range; snowflake hologram. Back (vertical): English text; tiger and pine tree from Kim Hong-do’s painting, “Songhamaenghodo.” Windowed Motion security thread with ᄑᄎ pattern. Watermark: PyeongChang Olympic stadium. Printer: 한국조폐공사 제조 (KOMSCO). 140 x 75 mm. Paper.

Bank of Korea Museum

In June 2001, the Bank of Korea Museum opened in the bank’s headquarters in Seoul.
For more information, visit http://museum.bok.or.kr.