South Korean Banks Expand Trading Floors for 24-Hour Won Market

**From Bloomberg:** [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-01/south-korean-banks-expand-trading-floors-for-24-hour-won-market](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-01/south-korean-banks-expand-trading-floors-for-24-hour-won-market) South Korea’s biggest lenders are boosting trading desks in London and Seoul to prepare for the won’s round-the-clock trading starting next week. Woori Bank dispatched eight staff to its London office, including five traders in its foreign-exchange, derivatives and bond desks ahead of securing UK regulatory approval in May, Kang Ju Hwan, manager at the bank’s public relations department said. Hana Bank has added three dealers in Seoul and introduced a three-shift rotation to provide 24-hour market coverage, Jung Hyun-seok, senior manager of the bank’s public relations department said. Shinhan Bank and KB Kookmin Bank are also expanding headcount and upgrading systems, spokespeople for the two banks said. **From July 6, the dollar-won spot market will trade continuously from 6 a.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Saturday during New York daylight savings time, from the current 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. schedule.** The move comes at a time when the won is hovering close to its lowest level since 2009. The slide this year prompted the government to take strong measures, including crack down on speculative foreign-exchange trading last month. The overhaul is the centerpiece of Seoul’s years-long push to improve foreign investors’ access to local markets and bolster its case for an upgrade to MSCI Inc.’s developed-market index, where accessibility has long been a stumbling block. The immediate challenge for the banks includes keeping desks staffed overnight when liquidity thins and major US data lands while Seoul is asleep. Their approaches diverge between building out London hubs and reinforcing Seoul. Woori Bank’s license to conduct client derivatives business and securities investment operations will allow it to support won-related investments and hedging outside Korean market hours. Its new trading center in London, established through the expansion of its former branch office, also opened in June. Shinhan Bank will add one more FX dealer in London from the current two in July as it plans to establish a London desk-centered response framework, Lee Ji Min, a manager at the bank’s public relations department, said. Kookmin Bank has recently completed internal IT upgrades to run 24 hours, and is also planning to expand headcount, Park Junhwan, head of the bank’s brand & PR department said.