The exchange rate is 1,450 won due to the shock from the U.S....Stock prices have plunged nearly 2 percent.

KRW 1,453 at the opening of the won-dollar exchange rate...KRW 17.5 from the previous day ↑
It is the first time in 15 years and 9 months that the intraday exchange rate has exceeded 1,450 won
KOSPI and KOSDAQ also close down nearly 2%

[Anchor]
Our foreign exchange market and stock market fluctuated as the U.S. showed signs of freezing its benchmark interest rate for a while next year.

Despite the aftermath of the impeachment, the won-dollar exchange rate, which remained around 1,430 won, exceeded 1,450 won during the day, and both KOSPI and KOSDAQ plunged nearly 2%.

Reporter Hwang Hye-kyung reports.

[Reporter]
The won-dollar exchange rate soared by nearly 20 won from the previous day as soon as the foreign exchange market opened.

It is the first time in 15 years and 9 months that the won-dollar exchange rate has exceeded 1,450 won during the global financial crisis since March 2009.

Immediately after the emergency martial law incident, the exchange rate, which exceeded 1,440 won during the day, fell to 1,430 won due to the defense of the authorities, but the reins were released again due to the shock from the U.S.

The stock market has also lost steam.

The KOSPI rebounded in three trading days due to foreign investors who turned to net buying the previous day, but froze again in a day.

All of this comes as the U.S. Federal Reserve has signaled that it will slow its rate cut next year.

The sudden change has prompted the financial authorities to put out the fire.

It said it would take additional market stabilization measures boldly and quickly in the event of excessive volatility.

Unusually, the chairman of the National Assembly also visited the Bank of Korea and asked it to take a preemptive step toward resolving economic uncertainty.

[Woo Won-sik / Speaker of the National Assembly: It seems that preemptive measures by financial authorities are needed above all to stabilize household debt, manage volatility in financial markets, and support export recovery]

[Lee Chang-yong / Governor of the Bank of Korea: As the financial market changes according to the results of the FOMC, we are still not at a stage to be relieved and we cannot continue to be vigilant. We will do our best to overcome difficult situations by actively responding and strengthening external communication...]

Financial authorities are also agonizing over the possibility of the won-dollar exchange rate exceeding 1,500 won.

I'm YTN Hwang Hye-kyung.

Photographer: Hong Seong-no
Design: Jung Eun-ok