Core Viewpoint - The National Pension Service (NPS) of South Korea has initiated a foreign exchange swap agreement with the Bank of Korea to stabilize the Korean won, which has been one of the worst-performing currencies in Asia this year [1][2]. Group 1: Foreign Exchange Swap Agreement - The NPS has started a foreign exchange swap agreement with the Bank of Korea [1][2]. - The NPS has also begun currency hedging transactions with the central bank, although the nature of these hedges (tactical or strategic) has not been disclosed [1][2]. Group 2: Currency Stabilization Efforts - The NPS has reportedly started selling US dollars to support the Korean won's exchange rate [1][2]. - As the largest institutional investor in South Korea, the NPS manages approximately $542 billion in overseas assets and is taking on a greater responsibility for maintaining exchange rate stability [1][2].

Core Viewpoint - The South Korean National Pension Service (NPS) is implementing a more flexible approach to strategic foreign exchange hedging to support the weakening Korean won, which has depreciated over 8% against the US dollar in the second half of the year [1][2]. Group 1: NPS Actions - The NPS has set a strategic hedging limit of 10% for its overseas investment portfolio [1]. - The NPS aims to adapt its hedging strategies based on market conditions to alleviate pressure on the won [1]. Group 2: Market Impact - Following the announcement, the Korean won strengthened, with a 0.9% increase against the US dollar [2]. - Market analysts suggest that the message from the NPS and the Bank of Korea (BOK) is a warning against shorting the won [4]. Group 3: Regulatory Support - The Ministry of Health and Welfare, which oversees the NPS, announced an extension of the foreign exchange swap agreement with the BOK until the end of 2026 [4]. - The swap limit has been increased from $10 billion in 2022 to $65 billion [4].