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Korean won banknotes and coins: denominations, the 50,000-won note, how to spot a real note and what the Bank of Korea does with damaged money
Numbers checked against the official source on 2026-10-19
Korea has four banknotes in current issue — 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 50,000 won — and six coins: 500, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1 won. The 50,000-won note, the largest, was first issued on June 23, 2009 and carries Shin Saimdang. The Bank of Korea exchanges a damaged note at full face value if more than three-fourths of the genuine note remains, and at half value if between two-fifths and three-fourths remains.
Source: Bank of Korea English site, Currency pages (Introduction to Banknotes, Introduction to Coins, Security Features, Guidelines for Exchange, Limits on Currency Exchange, Currency in Circulation). The pages print no revision date; read on 2026-10-19.
Which banknotes are in circulation in Korea?
| Note | First issued | Size (mm) | Basic color | Themes listed by the Bank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50,000 won | June 23, 2009 | 154 x 68 | Yellow | Shin Saimdang (1504~1551), Mukpododo, Egg plants of Chochungdo-subyeong, Wolmaedo, Poongjukdo |
| 10,000 won (sixth series) | Jan 22, 2007 | 148 x 68 | Green | King Sejong the Great (1397~1450), Irworobongdo ('the Sun and the Moon, Five Mountain Peaks'), Yongbieocheonga ('Songs of Flying Dragons') / Honcheonui |
| 5,000 won (fifth series) | Jan 02, 2006 | 142 x 68 | Red and yellow | Yulgok Yi I (scholar, 1536~1584), Ojukheon (Mongryoungsil) and Ojuk (black bamboos) / Chochungdo (watermelons and cockscombs) Paintings |
| 1,000 won (third series) | Jan 22, 2007 | 136 x 68 | Blue | Toegye Yi Hwang (scholar, 1501~1570), Myeongryundang, Prunus mume / Gyesangjeonggeodo |
All four notes are listed as cotton. The Bank's circulation table also lists older notes (for example earlier 10,000 and 5,000-won versions whose issue ceased on June 1, 2016) and says that "some of these currencies are no longer issued but they are still legal tender." If someone hands you an old-looking note, do not assume it is invalid; ask a bank.
Which coins are in circulation?
| Coin | Design | Material | Diameter | Weight | Edge | First issued (series) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 won | Crane | Cu 75%, Ni 25% | 26.50 mm | 7.70 g | Milled | Jun. 12, 1982 |
| 100 won | Admiral Yi Sun-Shin | Cu 75%, Ni 25% | 24.00 mm | 5.42 g | Milled | Nov. 30, 1970 |
| 50 won | Stalk of Rice | Cu 70%, Zn 18%, Ni 12% | 21.60 mm | 4.16 g | Milled | Dec. 1, 1972 |
| 10 won | Dabotap, Pagoda | Copper-clad Aluminum (Cu 48%, Al 52%) | 18.0 mm | 1.22 g | Plain | Aug. 16, 1966 |
| 5 won | Kobukson, Turtle Ship | Cu 65%, Zn 35% | 20.40 mm | 2.95 g | Plain | Aug. 16, 1966 |
| 1 won | Rose of Sharon | Al 100% | 17.20 mm | 0.729 g | Plain | Aug. 16, 1966 |
The "first issued" dates are the Bank's "date of first issue for series" for each denomination. The circulation table lists later coin versions too (for example a 10-won version first issued on December 18, 2006), so a coin you hold may differ slightly from the design shown above.
How can you tell a real note? The checks the Bank lists for the public
The Bank of Korea splits security features into those for the general public and those for professional money handlers. The public features differ by denomination:
| Feature | 50,000 | 10,000 | 5,000 | 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optically Variable Device | O (strip type) | O (patch type) | O (patch type) | X |
| Windowed Security Thread | O (moving image) | X | X | O |
| Novel Numbering | O | X | X | X |
| Color Shifting Ink | O | O | O | O |
| Watermark | O | O | O | O |
| Intaglio Latent Image | O | O | O | O |
| Security Thread | O | O | O | X |
| See Through Register | O | O | O | O |
The 50,000-won note, step by step
- Tilt it. On the left end of the front is a holographic strip with three changing images: a map of Korea, a taegeuk (two-comma roundel) and the four trigrams. Between them "50000" is printed vertically.
- Tilt it again and watch the number. The face value "50000" at the top right of the back turns from magenta to green, or green to magenta.
- Look at the striped band. A blue and gray film carries many taegeuk patterns that move left and right when you tilt the note up and down.
- Hold it to the light. A hidden portrait of Shin Saimdang appears at the left of the front (watermark). The round images on the front and back combine into a taegeuk (see-through register), and a thread shows the micro letters "한국은행 BANK OF KOREA 50000" to the right of the portrait.
- Feel it. The portrait, the Wolmaedo painting, the letters and the denomination numbers have a granular intaglio texture.
- Read the serial number. On the 50,000-won note the digits grow gradually larger from left to right; on the 10,000, 5,000 and 1,000-won notes they are a constant size.
For comparison the Bank notes that the hologram on the 10,000-won note is square and on the 5,000-won note circular, and that the colour-shifting number on the 10,000 and 5,000-won notes turns from gold to green, and on the 1,000-won note from green to blue. This page does not replace the Bank's own guidance; if a note feels wrong, take it to a bank.
What happens to a torn, burnt or dirty note?
The Bank of Korea exchanges damaged, mutilated or contaminated Bank of Korea currency for new currency at face value "providing there are sufficient fragments or remains." The share of the note left decides the value:
| Mutilated banknote | Exchanged at |
|---|---|
| More than three-fourths of the genuine note remains | Full face value |
| Less than three-fourths but more than two-fifths remains | Half face value |
| Less than two-fifths remains | No face value (nothing) |
Coins: face value if the coin is unfit because it is distorted, rusted or similar; no face value if it is out of recognition or has dubious authenticity.
Damaged-note estimator
The estimator only applies the Bank's published fractions. The Bank decides how much of a note is "genuine" and whether the remains are sufficient; you cannot measure that at home exactly.
Daily exchange limits at the Bank of Korea
The Bank prints daily per-person limits for exchange at its Seoul head office (Article 74 of the Guidelines for Currency Issuance), based on one day's exchange per person:
| Banknotes | Limit | Coins | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50,000-won notes | 1 million won | 500-won coins | 0.5 million won (1 box) |
| 10,000-won notes | 1 million won | 100-won coins | 0.2 million won (1 box) |
| 5,000-won notes | 0.5 million won | 50-won coins | 10,000 won (4 rolls) |
| 1,000-won notes | 0.5 million won | 10-won coins | 2,000 won (4 rolls) |
- "Foreign currencies or checks are unexchangeable" at the Bank.
- Burnt, contaminated, mutilated or severely damaged notes and coins may be exchanged beyond the limit. To make it quick, contact the Currency Department (02-560-1690) of the Bank of Korea 3 business days beforehand.
- Regional branches set and operate their own limits according to local demand.
Exchanging foreign money for won is a different matter; see how much cash you can bring into Korea and the tourist tax refund. This page is a summary of the Bank's pages, not an authentication service. Confirm with the Bank of Korea.
Checked 2026-10-19.
Official sources
- Bank of Korea (English) — Introduction to Banknotes — first issue date, size, color, material and themes of the 1,000 to 50,000-won notes; no revision date printed (read on 2026-10-19) (checked 2026-10-19)
- Bank of Korea (English) — Introduction to Coins — design, material, diameter, weight, edge and first-issue date of the 1 to 500-won coins (checked 2026-10-19)
- Bank of Korea (English) — Currency in Circulation (Legal Tender) — all versions still legal tender and issue-ceased dates (checked 2026-10-19)
- Bank of Korea (English) — Summary of Security Features — feature-by-denomination table for the general public (checked 2026-10-19)
- Bank of Korea (English) — Security Features: 50,000 won — how each 50,000-won feature looks and how to test it (checked 2026-10-19)
- Bank of Korea (English) — Guidelines for Exchange (damaged currency) — three-fourths and two-fifths rule for mutilated notes; coin rule (checked 2026-10-19)
- Bank of Korea (English) — Limits on Currency Exchange — daily per-person limits at the Seoul head office; exceptions for damaged money (checked 2026-10-19)
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