North Korean won

Since 2001, the North Korean government has abandoned the iconic rate of 2.16 won to the dollar (which is said to have been based upon Kim Jong-il's birthday, February 16)[8] and banks in the country now issue at rates closer to the black market rate. More recent official rates have shown the North Korean won (as of 7 January 2017) to be ₩129.559 to the US dollar.[9] However, rampant inflation has been eroding the North Korean won value. A report by defectors from North Korea claimed that the black market rate was ₩570 to the Chinese yuan (or about ₩4,000 per U.S. dollar) in June 2009.[10] As of May 16, 2020, xe.com, a website that publishes mid-market currency exchange rates, lists the exchange rate at ₩900.000 to US$1.00.

The won was revalued in November 2009[11][12] for the first time in 50 years.[13][14] North Koreans were given seven days to exchange a maximum of ₩100,000 (worth approximately US$40 on the black market) in ₩1,000 notes for ₩10 notes, but after protests by some of the populace, the limit was raised to ₩150,000 in cash and ₩300,000 in bank savings.[15] The official exchange rate at this time was around $740 but black market value of the ₩150,000 was estimated to be near $30.[16] The revaluation, seen as a move against private market activity, wiped out many North Koreans' savings.[15] The Times speculated that the move may have been an attempt by the North Korean government to control price inflation and destroy the fortunes of local black market money traders.[17] The announcement was made to foreign embassies but not in North Korean state media.[17][18] Information was later carried via a wire-based radio service only available within North Korea.[19]

As part of the process, the old notes ceased to be legal tender on November 30, 2009, with notes valued in the new won not being distributed until December 7, 2009.[17] This meant that North Koreans would not be able to exchange any money for goods or services until that date and most shops, restaurants and transport services had been shut down for the week.[17] The only services that remained open were those catering to the political elite and foreigners which continued to trade exclusively in foreign currency.[17] The measure had led to concerns amongst North Korean officials that it would result in civil unrest. China's Xinhua news agency described North Korean citizens in a "collective panic";[20] army bases were put on standby and there were unconfirmed reports of public protests in the streets in a handful of North Korean cities and towns that forced authorities to slightly increase the amount of currency people would be allowed to exchange.[21] Piles of old bills were also set on fire in separate locations across the country, old paper notes were dumped in a stream (against laws of the desecration of images of Kim Il-sung) and two black market traders were shot dead in the streets of Pyongsong by local police, according to international reports.[22][23] Authorities threatened "merciless punishment" for any person who violated the rules of the currency change.[24]

Pictures of the new notes were published on December 4, 2009, in the Chosun Shinbo, a North Korean newspaper based in Japan.[25][26] The paper claimed that the measure would weaken the free market and strengthen the country's socialist system.[27] However, the won plummeted 96 percent against the U.S. dollar in the ensuing days after revaluation.[28] Authorities eventually raised the limit to 500,000 won, Chosun said, and promised no probe into savings of up to one million won and unlimited withdrawals if savings of more than one million are properly explained.

In February 2010, some of the curbs on the free market were eased and a senior party official sacked after incidents of unrest.[29] Pak Nam-gi, the director of the Planning and Finance Department of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, was executed later in 2010.[30] North Korea denied any serious crisis relating to the revaluation.[31]

The first North Korean coins for circulation were minted in 1959 in denominations of 1, 5, and 10 chon. These coins were often restruck with the original dates in later years; however, 1970 and 1974 dates also appear on the 1 and 5 chon. In 1978, 50 chon coins featuring the Chollima Statue and a rising sun were introduced into circulation during the 1979 currency reform to allow greater flexibility for vendors by eliminating the 50 chon banknote and large amounts of "small change" coinage carried. In 1987, 1 won coins featuring the Grand People's Study House were introduced, but did not fully replace the 1 won note which remained legal tender.

When the historic 2.16 peg to the dollar was abandoned in 2001 to allow for greater convertibility the coins began to lose value. After 2003, these coins were rarely seen in circulation but were still redeemable. Later, a new set of coins was introduced in 2005 in denominations of 5, 10, 50, and 100 won. These coins were less impressive compared to the older series, being very plain and generic in design. All circulation coins of the Second Won were struck in aluminum.

Following other state capitalist economies like Cuba and China, North Korea developed a special system of marking coins for two groups of foreign visitors. Issued in 1983, these coins were part of the "Pakkundon" convertible series. Coins with no "stars" were for general circulation in North Korea, coins marked with one star were for "socialist visitors", and coins marked with two stars were designated for "capitalist visitors". A fourth set, intended for collectors rather than circulation, was struck with the word "specimen" or "example" in Korean characters in the areas where the stars would be. The specimen/example set is the least common of the four. Besides the general circulating coins, there is an abundance of different commemorative coins minted in the name of the DPRK. Most, if not all of them, are sold to foreign numismatists. Some of these are official, state approved coins, others are not.

Coins were issued in 10, 50 chon and 1 won denominations in 2002 and 1 and 5 chon denominations in 2008. All denominations are struck in aluminum. These coins feature the national coat of arms on the obverse and flowers, particularly the Kimjongilia and the Kimilsungia, on the reverse of the 10 and 50 chon. A magnolia adorns the 1 won.[25]

Initially struck in 2002, the coins were intended for use shortly after the dollar peg was removed from the currency. The 50 chon and 1 won were smaller than the previous designs, while the new 10 chon was the same size as the old. Hyperinflation became a very sudden reality, however, and the new coins were never released as planned. In 2008, 1 and 5 chon coins were also struck when a plan for monetary revaluation began. The coins were finally released into circulation in December 2009 but due to the flawed nature of the revaluation these coins again carry very little value, with especially the 1 and 5 chon being virtually irrelevant.

This currency was issued in all banknote form, with the first banknotes of this issue in denominations of 15, 20, and 50 chon along with 1, 5, 10 and 100 won in 1947. The chon notes had stylized art designs while the won denominations were fairly uniform in design featuring a farmer and a worker standing together and holding the symbolic tools. This currency was later revalued in 1959 at a rate of one new won to 100 old won to fix the inflation that had occurred as a result of the Korean War.[34]

In 1959, the old won was replaced with the Second Won, with price and exchange rates fixed to the U.S. dollar. This banknote series was issued in denominations of 50 chon, and 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100 won. These notes were much larger than the previous issue and depicted images representing various industries in the North Korean economy.

In 1979, the currency was again reformed, and a new banknote series was issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100 won. There is ongoing speculation as to why this move was made. All 1959 banknotes were removed from circulation. Circulating coins, however, were not affected by this change. The designs for this issue were much more symbolic and charismatic than previous ones, with Kim Il-sung featuring for the first time on the 100 won note.

In 1992, another redesign was carried out for banknotes, again in denominations of 1-, 5-, 10-, 50-, and 100-won. Older notes were once again withdrawn. These notes were smaller and crisper than the previous issue and depicted more modern themes. The 5 and 10 won banknotes were again issued in 1998, along with a 500 won banknote that same year but were stamped rather than engraved reflecting poorer production quality. In 2002, 1,000 and 5,000 won notes were introduced, followed by a 200 won note in 2005. The former two were identical in design to the 100 won though differing in colors and added security features, but the colored fields behind the text no longer extended all the way to the margins. In 2007, the 500 won had also been revised in this same manner along with being engraved for the first time to protect against counterfeiting. From 1998 onwards, all notes were dated using the Juche year (Juche year) along with the standard dating.

In 2005, the Central Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea issued commemorative 200, 500, 1000 and 5000 won notes to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the foundation of North Korea. It consists of an overprint on its regular issue notes.

In 2007, a commemorative version of this banknote series was released, stamped "Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung's 95th Birthday" on all denominations.

As explained above, there are two varieties of foreign certificates. For the 1978 banknote series, foreign certificates, called "Pakkundon", meaning "exchangeable money" were implemented by an overstamp and serial number color. This was intended to protect the value of the national currency in North Korea's command economy. These were first released in 1983 in two forms, one for "socialist visitors" which had a red stamp, and one for "capitalist visitors" which had a green stamp. Another series was released in 1986 with either a blue or red Guilloché style stamp. These were issued in all denominations, except for the ₩100 note, presumably because it was assumed by the government that foreign visitors to North Korea would not show proper respect for its depiction of Kim Il-sung. These notes were discontinued in 1988 and replaced with a new series of Pakkundon in all banknote form that was more distinguishable and unmistakable from generic circulation currency.

Banknotes of the North Korean won (1978 issue)

Obverse	Reverse	Main color	Value	Obverse	Reverse
		Olive-green	₩1	A student, woman and children	Male and female soldiers; Yang Helyong (scenes from the opera Sea of Blood)
		Blue-gray	₩5	Worker with a cogwheel and holding a political book; peasant woman holding a sheaf of wheat; factories in the background	Mount Kumgang
		Brown	₩10	Chollima	Chollima Steel Complex
		Olive-green	₩50	Soldier; peasant woman; officials of the Workers' Party of Korea	Lake
		Brown and lilac	₩100	Kim Il-sung	Mangyongdae (the birthplace of Kim Il-sung)

In 1988, the Bank of Trade (무역은행) (as opposed to the Central Bank) issued two unique series of foreign certificates. They both included 1 chon, 5 chon, 10 chon, 50 chon, ₩1, ₩5, ₩10, and ₩50. The series for "capitalist visitors" was blue-green, while the series for "socialist visitors" was pink.[35] The chon notes had a simple design of patterns and corresponding values, while the socialist won notes depict the International Friendship Exhibition, and the capitalist won notes depict the Chollima Statue.[36]

Banknotes in circulation for the second won, up to December 2009, were as follows:

1992 series

Obverse	Reverse	Value	Dimensions	Main Color	Description			Date of issue
					Obverse	Reverse	Watermark
		₩1	116 × 55 mm	Green	Actress Hong Yong-hee in her film role as The Flower Girl	Mount Kumgang	Chollima Statue	1992
		₩5	126 × 60 mm	Blue	Students, Kim Il-sung University, Mangyongdae School Children's Palace	Grand People's Study House		1992 1998
		₩10	136 × 65 mm	Brown-orange	Factory worker, Chollima (1,000 ri horse)	Pi Do Island, Western sea barrage and locks at Taedong River(Taedong-gang)
		₩50	146 × 70 mm	Orange	Young professionals, Juche Tower	Mount Paektu	Juche Tower	1992
		₩100	156 × 75 mm	Red and brown	Kim Il-sung	The birthplace of Kim Il-sung, Mangyongdae-guyok	Arch of Triumph	1992
		₩200	140 × 72 mm	Blue and green	Mongnan (National Flower of North Korea)	Value	Chollima Statue	2005
		₩500	156 × 75 mm	Dark green	Kumsusan Memorial Palace	Chongryu Bridge[37]	Arch of Triumph	1998 2007
		₩1000		Green-cyan	Kim Il-sung	The birthplace of Kim Il-sung, Mangyongdae-guyok		2002 2006
		₩5000		Violet

In 2009, another currency reform was initiated to tackle hyperinflation and black market activities. Unlike previous reforms, the 2009 move sparked a nationwide panic when it was announced there would be a two-week waiting period between the withdrawal of the old currency and the introduction of the new currency, coupled with an exchange limit of only 500,000 old won for each person, effectively wiping out savings. The state eventually pulled back on most exchange limits; however, the revaluation proved to be a failure.

Like the coins for this series, some of the denominations were initially printed in 2002 but were never released into circulation, pointing to a planned monetary revaluation much earlier than 2009 that was never carried out.

The current series of banknotes of the third won are issued in denominations of 5-, 10-, 50-, 100-, 200-, 500-, 1,000-, 2,000-, and 5,000-won. Kim Il-sung is depicted only on the obverse of the highest denomination, with the 100 won note featuring the Magnolia (National Flower) and other notes depicting North Koreans of different professions and various monuments in North Korea.[25] The exchange rate was 100 second won to 1 third won.[38]

Unlike all previous series, these notes were all uniform in dimensions rather than staggered in size from smallest to largest. There are rumors that the original designs for the 1,000 and 2,000 won notes depicted Kim Il-sung and had similar design features to the 5,000 won that were scrapped and destroyed due to counterfeiters or thieves breaking into a bank warehouse and stealing early notes or printing materials, resulting in a total redesign of the two denominations in question.

In 2012, another commemorative series of banknotes was released, this time in the 2002–2009 series but similarly stamped "Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung's 100th Birthday." Once again this stamp appeared on all denominations.[39][40]

In 2018, 1,000 and 2,000 won notes were released with an overprint referencing the 70th Anniversary of its independence.

On July 25, 2014, a new 5,000 won note dated 2013 was released into circulation. Instead of depicting the portrait of North Korea's founder Kim Il-sung, the note depicts an image of his birthplace in Mangyondae and on the back the International Friendship Exhibition in Myohyangsan that displays gifts he and his son Kim Jong-il received from foreign leaders.[41][42][43][44] There has been ongoing speculation that this could indicate plans for higher denominations to be released later which would depict Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, or possibly both. However the official reason behind the change was to combat counterfeiters.

2009 series[25]

Image		Value	Dimensions	Main Color	Description			Date on notes	Remark
Obverse	Reverse				Obverse	Reverse	Watermark
		₩5	145 × 65 mm	Navy blue	Party members	Hwanggang hydroelectric dam and power station	Mongnan(Seibold’s magnolia) flowers	Juche 91 (2002)
		₩10		Olive Green	Soldiers (Air Force, Navy, Army)	Victory Monument of the "Fatherland Liberation War" (Korean War)
		₩50		Purple	Engineer, farmer and working intellectual	Monument to the Founding of the Workers' Party of Korea
		₩100		Green	Mongnan (National Flower of North Korea)	Value		Juche 97 (2008)
		₩200		Burgundy	Chollima
		₩500		Grey	Arch of Triumph
		₩1000		Red	Birthplace of Kim Jong-suk in Hoeryong	Samji lake			The obverse depicts Kim Jong-suk’s birthplace
		₩2000		Blue	Log cabin on Mount Paektu, Jong-il Peak	Mount Paektu			The obverse depicts Kim Jong-il’s alleged[45] birthplace
		₩5000		Brown	Kim Il-sung	Mangyongdae
		₩5000		Brown and pink	Birthplace of Kim Il-sung in Mangyongdae	International Friendship Exhibition in Mt. Myohang	Mongnan (Seibold’s magnolia) flowers	Juche 102 (2013)
For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

Note: Rates obtained from these websites could be substantially different from black market rate