South Korea to Launch 24-Hour FX Trading in July — Paving the Way for Global Market Integration

South Korea is joining the world’s 24/7 financial club.
According to Cryptopolitan, South Korea’s financial authorities will officially open its foreign exchange (FX) market to 24-hour trading starting July 2024, ending decades of restricted hours that limited global participation.

The move is expected to boost liquidity, attract foreign investors, and align Korea’s financial markets with international standards, while also setting the stage for deeper crypto–forex convergence in the near future.

A Major Shift for Korea’s FX Market

Currently, South Korea’s foreign exchange market operates only during local business hours — a system that has often been criticized for limiting international competitiveness.
From July, the market will operate 24 hours a day, five days a week, mirroring top-tier global hubs like London, New York, and Tokyo.

The reform will allow foreign financial institutions to directly participate in Korea’s won trading market through registered global brokerages, increasing transparency and depth.

“This is a crucial leap toward making South Korea a fully globalized financial center,” said an official from the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Why It Matters: Liquidity, Access, and Innovation

This policy shift aims to:

• Enhance foreign investor participation,
• Improve exchange rate stability, and
• Create an open, digital-ready financial environment.

By integrating real-time global trading, South Korea can better manage currency volatility while supporting fintech and blockchain-based FX platforms.

Experts also believe the move could serve as a regulatory precursor for future 24/7 crypto–fiat integration, given Korea’s strong digital infrastructure and interest in tokenized assets.

“FX liberalization naturally extends to crypto markets,” said a Seoul-based blockchain economist. “Digital and traditional finance are converging faster than expected.”

Government and Industry Reactions

The Bank of Korea (BOK) and the Financial Services Commission (FSC) have backed the initiative, noting that the extended hours will increase market flexibility and resilience.

Several major Korean banks — including Shinhan Bank and KB Kookmin — are already testing digital asset custody and tokenized forex platforms, signaling a future where crypto and fiat markets run side by side.

Market analysts expect initial adjustments in liquidity during the transition phase, but long-term projections point to stronger international inflows and improved price discovery.

Outlook: 24/7 Finance, 24/7 Innovation

As Korea transitions to a 24-hour FX model, it positions itself as a bridge between traditional finance and the digital economy.
This reform not only modernizes its financial structure but also lays the groundwork for global crypto interoperability — where trading never sleeps.

From Seoul to Wall Street, the markets are officially always open.