The inflation rate in South Korea between 1979 and today has been 606.2%, which translates into a total increase of ₩606.2. This means that 100 won in 1979 are equivalent to 706.2 won in 2025. In other words, the purchasing power of ₩100 in 1979 equals ₩706.2 today. The average annual inflation rate between these periods has been 4.34%.
The following chart depicts the equivalence of ₩100 due to compound inflation and CPI changes. All values are equivalent in terms of purchasing power, which means that for each year the same goods or services could be bought with the indicated amount of money.
All calculations are performed in the local currency (KRW) and using 6 decimal digits. Results show only up to 2 decimal digits to favour readability. Inflation data is provided by governments and international institutions on a monthly basis. Today's values were extrapolated from the latest 12-month rolling average official data.
The following table contains relevant indicators:
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Cumulative inflation 1979-2024 | 600.9% |
| Cumulative inflation 1979-today | 606.2% |
| Avg. Annual inflation 1979-2024 | 4.42% |
| CPI 1979 | 17.17 |
| CPI 2024 | 120.37 |
| CPI 2024-12 (latest official data) | 121.14 |
| CPI today | 121.28 |
There are several ways to calculate the time value of money. Depending on the data available, results can be obtained by using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) formula or the compound interest formula.
When we have both the start and end years, we can use the following formula:
To obtain the values equivalent in buying power between 1979 and 2024, use the corresponding CPI values:
To obtain the equivalent value today (present value), plug in the CPI for today, which is estimated as 121.28:
Given that money changes with time as a result of an inflation rate that acts as compound interest, we can use the following formula: FV = PV × (1 + i)n, where:
In this case, the future value represents the final amount obtained after applying the inflation rate to our initial value. In other words, it indicates how much are ₩100 worth today. There are 45 years between 1979 and 2024 and the average inflation rate was 4.4221%. Therefore, we can resolve the formula like this:
| Initial Value | Equivalent value | |
|---|---|---|
| ₩1 won in 1979 | → | ₩7.01 won in 2024 |
| ₩5 won in 1979 | → | ₩35.05 won in 2024 |
| ₩10 won in 1979 | → | ₩70.09 won in 2024 |
| ₩50 won in 1979 | → | ₩350.45 won in 2024 |
| ₩100 won in 1979 | → | ₩700.9 won in 2024 |
| ₩500 won in 1979 | → | ₩3,504.52 won in 2024 |
| ₩1,000 won in 1979 | → | ₩7,009.05 won in 2024 |
| ₩5,000 won in 1979 | → | ₩35,045.24 won in 2024 |
| ₩10,000 won in 1979 | → | ₩70,090.48 won in 2024 |
| ₩50,000 won in 1979 | → | ₩350,452.42 won in 2024 |
| ₩100,000 won in 1979 | → | ₩700,904.85 won in 2024 |
| ₩500,000 won in 1979 | → | ₩3,504,524.25 won in 2024 |
| ₩1,000,000 won in 1979 | → | ₩7,009,048.49 won in 2024 |
| Cumulative inflation From 1979 | 606.2% |
| Avg. annual inflation From 1979 | 4.34% |
| CPI 1979 | 17.17 |
| CPI today | 121.28 |
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 1979 | 100 |
| 1980 | 128.7 |
| 1981 | 156.18 |
| 1982 | 167.41 |
| 1983 | 173.13 |
| 1984 | 177.07 |
| 1985 | 181.42 |
| 1986 | 186.41 |
| 1987 | 192.1 |
| 1988 | 205.83 |
| 1989 | 217.56 |
| 1990 | 236.21 |
| 1991 | 258.26 |
| 1992 | 274.3 |
| 1993 | 287.47 |
| 1994 | 305.48 |
| 1995 | 319.17 |
| 1996 | 334.89 |
| 1997 | 349.76 |
| 1998 | 376.03 |
| 1999 | 379.09 |
| 2000 | 387.66 |
| 2001 | 403.42 |
| 2002 | 414.56 |
| 2003 | 429.13 |
| 2004 | 444.54 |
| 2005 | 456.79 |
| 2006 | 467.03 |
| 2007 | 478.87 |
| 2008 | 501.25 |
| 2009 | 515.06 |
| 2010 | 530.2 |
| 2011 | 551.55 |
| 2012 | 563.61 |
| 2013 | 570.95 |
| 2014 | 578.22 |
| 2015 | 582.31 |
| 2016 | 587.97 |
| 2017 | 599.4 |
| 2018 | 608.25 |
| 2019 | 610.57 |
| 2020 | 613.85 |
| 2021 | 629.19 |
| 2022 | 661.21 |
| 2023 | 685 |
| 2024 | 700.9 |
| 2024-12 | 705.38 |
| Today | 706.2 |
All available years
Today's value of south korean won by year:
1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
Other currencies: