South Korea: FX Reserves Rise for 3rd Month.

South Korea's foreign exchange reserves increased to $416.3 billion in August 2025, up from $411.3 billion in a month earlier. The rise was due by higher securities holdings, which climbed to $366.2 billion from $365.1 billion, and deposits, which grew to $25 billion from $21.3 billion. Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) also edged up to $15.8 billion from $15.7 billion. Meanwhile, gold reserves held steady at $4.8 billion, as did the IMF reserve position at $4.5 billion. Despite these strong reserves, the central bank continues to face challenges from fluctuating currency markets and external economic pressures.