Foreign reserves up for 4th consecutive month in Sept.

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Foreign reserves up for 4th consecutive month in Sept.

Published: 10 Oct. 2025, 17:06

JIN MIN-JI
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A worker checks $100 bills at a bank branch of Hana Bank in central Seoul on Oct. 10, 2025. [YONHAP]

Korea's foreign reserves rose for the fourth consecutive month in September, primarily due to an increase in foreign currency deposits held by financial institutions, the central bank said on Friday.

The country's foreign reserves stood at $422.02 billion as of the end of September, up $5.73 billion from a month earlier, according to data from the Bank of Korea (BOK).

This marks the fourth straight monthly increase since reserves hit $404.6 billion in May, the lowest amount in five years.

The central bank attributed the rise to increased investment returns and a quarter-end effect that boosted foreign currency deposits held by financial institutions.

Foreign securities, such as U.S. treasuries, were valued at $378.4 billion as of the end of September, up $12.25 billion from a month earlier.

The country's International Monetary Fund reserve positions and special drawing rights remained unchanged from a month earlier, the data showed.

Korea ranked as the world's 10th largest holder of foreign reserves at the end of August.

China topped the list, followed by Japan, Switzerland, India and Russia, according to the BOK.

Yonhap