Scott Bessent: Korean Won Depreciation 'Not in Line' with Strong Fundamentals

The stock market is soaring, but the currency is sinking. America's top financial official says the math doesn't add up when it comes to South Korea's current economic landscape.

Scott Bessent Addresses Korean Won Depreciation Disconnect

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has stated that the recent Korean won depreciation is "not in line" with the country's strong economic fundamentals. According to reports from Yonhap, Bessent's comments highlight a rare intervention in verbal rhetoric regarding the currency of a major trading partner. This comes as the KOSPI has impressively climbed past the 4,700-point line, suggesting a massive divergence between equity performance and foreign exchange markets.

Economic Reality vs. Market Sentiment

While South Korea's domestic political scene remains turbulent—with ongoing trials involving former President Yoon—the industrial and tech sectors continue to drive the stock market to new heights. Bessent's assessment suggests that the global market may be overreacting to political noise, leading to an undervalued won that doesn't reflect the actual industrial output and trade strength of the nation.