▲ Officials work at a dealing room of Hana Bank in Seoul on April 8, 2026. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) Korean currency-volatility

(LEAD) S. Korean currency rises to one-month high on Middle East ceasefire agreement

(ATTN: RECASTS lead with more info; ADDS details in paras 2-3, 10)

SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean won strengthened sharply against the U.S. dollar Wednesday, as the United States and Iran agreed upon a two-week ceasefire in their monthlong conflict.

The won was quoted at 1,470.6 per dollar, up 33.6 won from the previous session.

It was the strongest level since March 11, when the currency stood at 1,466.5 per dollar and was experiencing heightened volatility due to the Middle East crisis.

The gain came after U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday (U.S. time) that he had agreed to refrain from attacking Iran for two weeks on condition that Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran also agreed to the reopening of the crucial waterway, provided that attacks against Iran are halted, according to foreign media reports.

The conflict, which began in late February following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, has escalated into a broader regional confrontation, rattling global markets and driving up oil prices, as the Strait of Hormuz has effectively been shut.

"Easing tensions in the Middle East have calmed risk-off sentiment," Lee Yoo-jung, an analyst at Hana Bank, said. "Global oil prices have plunged, while the dollar has also weakened significantly on the news."

The dollar index, which measures the U.S. dollar against a basket of six major currencies, fell below the 99 level.

Global oil prices tumbled, with Brent crude dropping nearly 15 percent to US$93.48.

On the news of the ceasefire agreement in the Middle East, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) climbed 6.87 percent to close at 5,872.34 on Wednesday.

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