Bank of Korea reports $12.5 billion foreign-asset gains in 2025
The Bank of Korea posted returns of about 16.9 trillion won, roughly $12.5 billion, from its foreign assets in 2025, driven by a weaker won and a stock market rally.
Data submitted to a lawmaker from the People Power Party shows the Bank of Korea earned 16.9 trillion won ($12.5 billion) from foreign assets in 2025, a 32 percent rise over the prior year. The bank’s report cites the won’s weakness against the dollar and a rally in equity markets as the main drivers of higher net income. Historical returns climbed from around 8 trillion won in 2016-18 to 13.8 trillion won in 2021, then dropped to 3.9 trillion won in 2022.
In 2023, won-denominated earnings from securities, deposits, dividends and stock sales recovered to 4.9 trillion won, and surged to 12.8 trillion won in 2024. The figures highlight the sensitivity of the central bank’s profit to currency and market fluctuations.
Why it matters
It shows how exchange-rate moves and market gains can significantly boost a central bank’s earnings.
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