South Korea Lifts 29-Year Ban on Round-the-Clock Won Trading

South Korea's won market opened for 24-hour trading on July 6, 2026, removing limits set after the 1997 crisis. The move targets an MSCI upgrade—which demands freely tradable currencies. The won held steady on day one, but faces real risk: it hit a 17-year low in early 2026, and foreign traders can now amplify swings through overnight sessions.