Korean Job Discussion Forums

RachaelRoo · Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Location: Anywhere but Ulsan!

Does anybody have any information on the history of the won, like how often it goes up and down? I'm hoping someone can link to a chart which compares it against the American - or better yet, Canadian - dollar over a period of years. I'm wondering cuz it seems to change frequently, and I can't find any info on when is the best time to send $ back home. For example, is the won historically higher or lower in a particular month or season?

Wrench · Joined: 07 Apr 2005

Just like the Canadian dollar it appears that Korea uses the USD as a benchmark.

Sliver · Joined: 04 May 2003 Location: The third dimension

Look here

http://www.forecasts.org/exchange-rate/korean-won-exchange-rate.htm

S. Korean Won to US Dollar Currency Exchange Rate
Past Trend, Present Value & Future Projection
S. Korean Won per One U.S. Dollar. Average of Month

and here too:

http://www.forecasts.org/data/data/EXKOUS.htm

hypnotist · Joined: 04 Dec 2004 Location: I wish I were a sock

Yahoo is good for stuff like this:

http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?from=CAD&to=KRW&amt=1&t=5y

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Exchange Rates for Selected Asian Currencies

Korean Won to 1 US Dollar
Date ......... Value
1997-06-01 891.40
1997-07-01 893.09
1997-08-01 898.71
1997-09-01 912.50
1997-10-01 929.42
1997-11-01 1035.22
1997-12-01 1496.90
1998-01-01 1707.30
1998-02-01 1628.42
....
2000-06-01 1117.94
2003-06-01 1194.14
2004-06-01 1159.02
2005-06-01 1012.39

Japanese Yen to 1 US Dollar
1997-06-01 114.29
1997-07-01 115.38
1997-08-01 117.93
1997-09-01 120.89
1997-10-01 121.06
1997-11-01 125.38
1997-12-01 129.73
1998-01-01 129.55
1998-02-01 125.85
....
2000-06-01 106.13
2003-06-01 118.33
2004-06-01 109.43
2005-06-01 108.74

Taiwan Dollar to 1 US Dollar
1997-06-01 27.903
1997-07-01 28.032
1997-08-01 28.824
1997-09-01 28.731
1997-10-01 29.696
1997-11-01 31.794
1997-12-01 32.502
1998-01-01 34.117
1998-02-01 32.948
....
2000-06-01 30.830
2003-06-01 34.633
2004-06-01 33.568
2005-06-01 31.348

Hong Kong Dollar to 1 US Dollar
1997-06-01 7.7445
1997-07-01 7.7454
1997-08-01 7.7436
1997-09-01 7.7440
1997-10-01 7.7373
1997-11-01 7.7314
1997-12-01 7.7456
1998-01-01 7.7425
1998-02-01 7.7412
....
2000-06-01 7.7934
2003-06-01 7.7988
2004-06-01 7.7980
2005-06-01 7.7756

Financial Forecast Center's Historical Economic and Market Data
http://www.forecasts.org/data/data/EXKOUS.htm

thewhat · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Seoul suburbs

Hey, nice link. I can never find stuff like that either.
So it looks like the rate is going to keep getting worse.

A small change at the end of vacation season but overall just worse.

Man you could of had a lot of money with those pre 97 rates.

Is my reading the same as everyone else. get out now. exchange all savings tommorrow?

stalinsdad · Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Jeonju

It's tempting but 1 terrorist attack in the US = worthless greenback
Japanese yen seems a safer bet?

bucheon bum · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Euro would be even safer than the yen.

Wangja · Joined: 17 May 2004 Location: Seoul, Yongsan

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Question:

Has anyone gone to the bank, purchased a couple of thousand dollars worth of travellers checks, signed them and sent them home via Fed Ex? Is it legal?

bucheon bum · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

I did it via postal mail. Not the safest way to transfer money, but I had no problems.

It is legal. Might want to check with your bank to see if it'll accept them. Some have issues with T/Cs, and want them to be signed in person. Credit card companies accept them as payment.