South Korea Coin List

The official currency of South Korea is the South Korean won (KRW), introduced in 1962 after the currency reform that replaced the hwan. The won is divided into 100 jeon, although in practice, jeon coins are no longer used. The South Korean monetary system has undergone several changes throughout its history, reflecting the country's economic and political evolution.

Current currency in circulation

The current South Korean won consists of banknotes and coins of different denominations. Banknotes in circulation are of 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 50,000 won, while coins are of 10, 50, 100 and 500 won. The designs of the banknotes feature important Korean historical figures, such as King Sejong the Great and the scholar Yi I, while the coins show national symbols such as the hibiscus flower or the warship Geobukseon.

Monetary history and highlights

Before the current won, Korea used various currencies, including the yang during the Joseon dynasty and the won of the Japanese colonial period. An important milestone in South Korean numismatics was the introduction of the first commemorative coin in 1970, celebrating Liberation Day. Since then, South Korea has issued numerous commemorative coins, including series dedicated to the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the 2002 FIFA World Cup, which are highly prized by collectors around the world.