Hanwha Ocean Reportedly Sold About $2 Billion in USD-KRW Forwards as Policymakers Sought to Support the Won

Hanwha Ocean, a South Korean shipbuilding company, reportedly sold about $2 billion in the U.S. dollar–South Korean won forward market on Friday, sources said. According to Jin10, Hanwha Ocean had not issued an official comment on the matter. After the report circulated, the won rose 0.6% against the U.S. dollar to 1,500. The report came as South Korean policymakers were working to curb weakness in the won. Observers expected that SK hynix issuing American depositary receipts (ADRs) in the United States would slow overseas sales of South Korean domestic stocks and reduce capital inflows. Earlier the same day, South Korea’s vice finance minister said he expected supply and demand conditions in the local currency market to change in the second half of 2026. He predicted that U.S. dollars held by exporters would generate inflows through foreign-exchange forward contracts.