‘Semiconductor dollars’ pour in: Foreign-currency deposits hit a record $154.7 billion in September

[Financial News] Foreign-currency deposits held by residents in Korea topped $150 billion, setting a new all-time high. The increase was driven by a large inflow of export proceeds from major semiconductor companies and others amid a downward trend in the won-dollar exchange rate.
According to data on resident foreign-currency deposits for September 2026 released by the Bank of Korea on the 28th, the balance of resident foreign-currency deposits at foreign-exchange banks in Korea stood at $154.71 billion at the end of September, up $14.09 billion from $140.62 billion at the end of the previous month. This marked a record high for the third consecutive month.
The increase was the third-largest on record, after $15.88 billion in December 2025 and $15.01 billion in July.
Resident foreign-currency deposits are foreign-currency deposits placed with domestic banks by Korean nationals, domestic companies and foreigners who have lived in Korea for at least six months.
By currency, dollar deposits stood at $132.9 billion at the end of September, up $12.99 billion from the previous month. The increase was driven by large inflows of export earnings (current-account receipts) from major companies and investor deposits at securities firms. Funds raised by public corporations through foreign-currency bond issuance also flowed in substantially.
Yen deposits also rose by $550 million from the previous month to $9.49 billion. This was because the yen fell to historically weak levels, prompting a sharp increase in currency exchanges for travel.
By economic entity, corporate deposits accounted for most of the overall increase. They surged by $13.11 billion from the previous month to $136.6 billion at the end of September.
Personal deposits also continued to rise, increasing by $980 million to $18.11 billion.
[email protected] Jung Sang-gyun Reporter