You’re staring at a 500-won coin and a handful of smaller change in your palm. Maybe you found it in an old coat pocket from a trip to Seoul, or perhaps you’re currently standing in a CU convenience store trying to figure out if this is enough for a snack.
Honestly? It's not much.
Right now, 660 won to USD converts to roughly $0.45.
That’s forty-five cents. In the time it took you to read that sentence, the rate probably twitched by a fraction of a cent. Since we’re early into 2026, the South Korean Won (KRW) has been on a bit of a rollercoaster. After a brief moment of strength at the end of last year, it’s been sliding again. Why? Because everyone in Korea seems to be buying U.S. stocks. When thousands of retail investors dump won to buy Nvidia or Tesla, the won loses its muscle.
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660 Won to USD: The Reality of Your Buying Power
Back in the day—and by that, I mean maybe ten years ago—660 won could actually get you something tangible. You could walk up to a street vendor and grab a piece of bungeoppang (that delicious fish-shaped pastry filled with red bean) and still have change for a piece of gum.
Fast forward to today.
Inflation has hit Korea hard. The price of flour and red beans has skyrocketed. Most street stalls now charge at least 1,000 won for a single pastry. If you have exactly 660 won, you’re basically looking at:
- A small Choco Pie (if sold individually, which is rare now).
- A single loose Chupa Chups lollipop.
- Maybe—just maybe—a very small bottle of water from a discount supermarket (not a convenience store).
Why the Exchange Rate is Acting So Weird
You’ve probably noticed the dollar feels "expensive" lately. On January 16, 2026, the won fell back above the 1,470 level against the greenback. Experts from Bank of America and ING have been pointing at a weird trend: Korean "ants" (the nickname for retail investors) are obsessed with the U.S. market.
In just the first ten days of this year, they moved nearly $20 billion into foreign stocks. That is a massive amount of capital leaving the country. Even when the U.S. Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, tries to talk the dollar down, the sheer volume of Koreans wanting to hold USD keeps the won weak.
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So, your 660 won feels like it’s shrinking. Not just because of the exchange rate, but because of domestic inflation. The Korea Consumer Agency recently reported that the cost of basic dining—stuff like kalguksu (noodle soup) and jajangmyeon—is creeping toward that 10,000 won mark.
The Math: Breaking Down 660 Won to USD
If you're doing the math in your head, the current conversion factor is approximately 0.00068.
$$660 \text{ KRW} \times 0.00068 = 0.4488 \text{ USD}$$
Basically, you’re looking at a shade under 45 cents. If you were exchanging this at a physical booth at Incheon Airport, you'd get even less because of the "spread"—the fee the bank takes. You might walk away with 35 cents and a very confused look from the teller.
Is It Even Worth Exchanging?
Short answer: No.
Most banks won't even look at you if you're trying to exchange less than 10,000 won. It’s "pocket change" in the most literal sense. If you have this amount left on a T-Money card (the transit card used for buses and subways), you can't even buy a single subway ride anymore. A one-way ticket in Seoul is now sitting around 1,550 won.
What You Can Actually Do With 660 Won
If you find yourself with this exact amount and you're in Korea, don't throw it away. Here’s how to actually use it:
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- Top up your T-Money: You can add any amount of change to your transit card at a machine. It won't get you a full ride, but it gets you 660 won closer to your next one.
- Convenience Store "Add-ons": If you’re buying a 2,000 won coffee at GS25, use the 660 won in cash and pay the rest on your card. Most clerks are totally fine with this.
- Donation Boxes: You’ll see them at the airport or near checkout counters. Since 45 cents isn't going to buy a meal, it's a "feel-good" way to get rid of the weight in your wallet.
The Outlook for the Won in 2026
Looking ahead, the won is in a tug-of-war. On one side, you have the Bank of Korea trying to keep things stable. On the other, you have the "resurgence of aggressive buying" of U.S. equities.
Some analysts are worried the won might hit 1,500 to the dollar later this year. If that happens, your 660 won will be worth even less—closer to $0.40.
There is some hope, though. The Korean government is looking at tax breaks to encourage people to bring their money back home. If they cut the capital gains tax on domestic stocks, we might see the won claw back some value. But for now, the dollar is king.
Actionable Next Steps for Travelers and Investors
If you’re holding Korean Won right now, here is what you should actually do:
- Don't wait for a "perfect" rate: If you have significant amounts of KRW (we're talking hundreds of thousands, not 660), and you need USD, it might be better to convert sooner rather than later. The trend suggests the won has more room to fall before it gets better.
- Check your T-Money balance: If you're leaving Korea, remember that you can get a refund for the balance on your transit card at most convenience stores, though they usually charge a 500-won service fee.
- Use a Mid-Market App: When checking rates, use something like Wise or XE. Google's default rate is the "mid-market" rate, which is what banks use to trade with each other. You will almost never get that rate as an individual. Always assume you'll get about 2-3% less.
If you are stuck with exactly 660 won to USD, just keep the coins as a souvenir. The 100-won coin features Admiral Yi Sun-sin, a national hero. That history is honestly worth more than the 45 cents you'd get at a currency exchange.