韩国总统李在明表示韩元相对坚挺 或于两个月内企稳

Core Viewpoint - The South Korean President Lee Jae-myung indicated that the country's struggling currency may strengthen in the next two months, stabilizing around 1,400 KRW per USD [1][3]. Group 1: Currency Situation - The recent depreciation of the Korean won is not unique to South Korea, with the Japanese yen facing even greater pressure [1][5]. - The won has depreciated over 8% against the dollar since the second half of 2025, reaching its lowest level since the global financial crisis [2][5]. - The current exchange rate is hovering near a 17-year low, despite record exports of $700 billion and ongoing trade surpluses [1][4]. Group 2: Economic Measures and Investments - The government is exploring various measures to stabilize the exchange rate, acknowledging that it cannot solely rely on domestic policies [2][5]. - As part of a trade agreement, South Korea committed to investing $350 billion in the U.S., raising concerns about its ability to finance this capital expenditure [2][5]. - Due to the ongoing pressure on the won, South Korea plans to delay its commitment to invest $20 billion in the U.S. this year [2][5]. Group 3: Investor Behavior - A significant factor contributing to the downward pressure on the won is the strong preference of South Korean retail investors for U.S. stocks, with holdings reaching a record high of nearly $172 billion this month [2][5]. - Compared to Japan, the depreciation of the won has been relatively smaller; if it were to depreciate similarly to the yen, the exchange rate would be around 1,600 KRW per USD [6].