How much did foreign currency deposits in Korea rise in July?

Outstanding resident foreign currency deposits reached $128.34 billion at the end of July, up $15.01 billion from a month earlier. That was the largest monthly increase since December, when the figure rose by $15.88 billion.

Which currencies and account holders saw the biggest changes in Korea’s July foreign currency deposits?

U.S. dollar deposits rose by $11.12 billion to $108.92 billion, while euro deposits increased $2.22 billion to $8.06 billion and yen deposits gained $1.5 billion to $8.61 billion. Corporate deposits climbed to $112.56 billion, while individual holdings rose to $15.77 billion.

Foreign currency deposits rise to all-time high in July

Q: Why did foreign currency deposits in Korea hit a record high in July?

The Bank of Korea said the sharp rise was driven by increased dollar receipts by exporting companies and funds held by local brokerages for investments in foreign bonds. Dollar-denominated deposits made the biggest contribution to the increase.

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Summary

Foreign currency deposits in Korea rose to a record high in July, driven by a sharp increase in dollar savings. Outstanding resident deposits reached $128.34 billion at the end of July, up $15.01 billion from a month earlier, according to Bank of Korea data. The increase was the largest in seven months and the highest level since the BOK began compiling the data in June 2012. The BOK said export company dollar receipts and funds held by local brokerages for foreign bond investments drove the rise.

Key Facts

U.S. dollar-denominated deposits increased by $11.12 billion to $108.92 billion, the largest on-month gain and the highest balance since June 2012.
Corporate foreign currency deposits rose by $13.57 billion to $112.56 billion.
Individual foreign currency holdings increased by $1.44 billion to $15.77 billion.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 28, 2026 12:29 pm KST

Dollar bills at Hana Bank's Counterfeit Notes Response Center in Seoul, July 3 / Yonhap

Foreign currency deposits in Korea rose by the largest amount in seven months to a record high in July, driven by a sharp increase in dollar savings, central bank data showed Friday.

Outstanding foreign currency-denominated deposits held by residents stood at $128.34 billion at the end of July, up $15.01 billion from a month earlier, according to data from the Bank of Korea (BOK).

It marked the highest level since the BOK began compiling the data in June 2012, as well as the largest on-month increase since December, when the figure rose by $15.88 billion.

The reading has increased every month since April.

Residents include Korean citizens, foreigners who have lived in the country for more than six months and foreign companies. The data excludes interbank deposits.

By currency, U.S. dollar-denominated reserves increased by $11.12 billion to $108.92 billion, marking the largest on-month gain and highest balance since June 2012.

Euro-denominated savings also gained $2.22 billion to $8.06 billion, while Japanese yen deposits increased $1.5 billion to $8.61 billion.

Corporate foreign currency deposits rose $13.57 billion to $112.56 billion, while individual holdings increased $1.44 billion to $15.77 billion.

The BOK said the sharp rise in foreign currency deposits was driven by increased dollar receipts by exporting companies and funds held by local brokerages for investments in foreign bonds.

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