Bank of Korea's returns on foreign assets near 17 tln won in 2025
Quick Look
South Korea's central bank earned 16.9 trillion won from foreign assets in 2025, a 32% increase from the previous year, driven by a weaker won and stock market gains, according to data submitted to a lawmaker.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Bank of Korea's foreign asset returns have fluctuated in recent years, rising from 8 trillion won annually in 2016-2018 to 13.8 trillion won in 2021, then falling to 3.9 trillion won in 2022 before recovering to 4.9 trillion won in 2023 and 12.8 trillion won in 2024.
SEOUL, Oct. 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's central bank posted nearly 17 trillion won (US$12.5 billion) in returns from foreign assets in 2025, helped by a weaker won and a rally in stock markets, data from the bank showed Sunday.
The Bank of Korea (BOK) recorded 16.9 trillion won in returns on foreign assets last year, up 32 percent from a year earlier, according to data submitted to a lawmaker from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP).
"The won's weakness against the dollar and a rally in stock markets drove up net income linked to foreign assets," the BOK said in its 2025 annual report, released in March.
Returns on foreign assets rose from around 8 trillion won annually in 2016-18 to 13.8 trillion won in 2021, before plunging to 3.9 trillion won in 2022.
Won-denominated returns from securities holdings, interest on bank deposits, dividends and stock sales rebounded to 4.9 trillion won in 2023, and jumped to 12.8 trillion won in 2024.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The Bank of Korea will continue to report strong foreign asset returns if the won remains weak and global stock markets maintain their rally.
Possible · Within months
Open Questions
- What specific foreign assets contributed most to the 2025 returns?
- How does the Bank of Korea's 2025 performance compare to other major central banks' foreign asset returns?
