Sources familiar with the matter have disclosed that South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean sold approximately $20 billion in the US dollar versus Korean won forward market on Friday.

Hanwha Ocean has yet to issue an official response regarding the transaction.

Following media reports of this significant sale, the Korean won strengthened against the US dollar, rising 0.6% to 1,500 won per dollar.

This move by the company occurs against a backdrop where market expectations suggest a slowdown in foreign capital outflows from South Korean equities. Additionally, the anticipated US listing of semiconductor firm SK Hynix is projected to bring capital inflows. South Korean policymakers are implementing various measures to curb the won's depreciation, and this substantial forward market sale aligns with those efforts.

Earlier on the same day, a Vice Minister of the South Korean Ministry of Economy and Finance indicated that a shift in the supply-demand dynamics of the domestic foreign exchange market is anticipated in the second half of 2026. This change is expected as export companies' US dollar holdings are converted into won through forward foreign exchange transactions, facilitating capital repatriation.