Won and lost

摘要

Those touching down on Korean soil with US Dollars are in for a shock - kimchi and soju, the preferred food and drink of the nation, will cost you much more than the last time you were in town. So too do ships, as the Korean Won has continued to strengthen and strengthen against the US Dollar, reaching an eight-year high towards the end of April (939 Won to the US$) and playing havoc with domestic shipping lines' and shipbuilders' financial forecasts. A stronger South Korean currency makes products more expensive in overseas markets and reduces the value of sales abroad when converted back into Won.