South Korea’s five major banks recorded record foreign-currency balances as individuals and companies bought dollars and yen during the won’s appreciation, with dollar deposits reaching $76.98223 billion and yen deposits ¥1.12424413 trillion on the 3rd of the month. The won later weakened for the first time in five sessions, closing at 1,345.6 per dollar on the 8th, as oil prices above $94 a barrel and importer demand outweighed semiconductor exporters’ dollar sales and a stronger yen. Companies led dollar-deposit growth as exporters delayed conversion and importers prepared for settlements, while individuals bought foreign currency for travel and potential gains. Banks expanded products and incentives, and the Bank of Korea said per capita gross national income is highly likely to exceed $40,000 this year if the exchange rate remains stable and no unexpected shocks occur.