The South Korean won eased to around 1,446 per dollar, retreating slightly from the previous session, as renewed US tariff threats pressured the currency. Investor caution intensified after Washington signaled it could pursue broader trade actions, including potential Section 301 investigations, raising concerns that Korea’s key exports such as automobiles and semiconductors could face additional scrutiny. The prospect of heightened trade frictions clouded the export outlook and weighed on the won. Meanwhile, the Bank of Korea is widely expected to keep its base rate unchanged at 2.50% this week, marking a sixth consecutive hold. Analysts also anticipate upward revisions to the 2026 growth and inflation forecasts, supported by robust chip exports and firmer domestic demand. Some economists suggest the next policy move is more likely to be a rate hike than a cut, helping anchor yield support for the won and limiting deeper losses.
