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Gold bars are displayed on the Korea Gold Trade headquarters in central Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
The Financial institution of Korea (BOK) ranked thirty ninth worldwide when it comes to gold reserves, because the central financial institution has shunned further gold purchases since 2013 regardless of energetic shopping for by its international friends, knowledge confirmed Tuesday.
In response to a report by the World Gold Council, the BOK held 104.4 metric tons of gold on the finish of 2025, rating thirty ninth amongst central banks worldwide, down one notch from a 12 months earlier.
When holdings by the Worldwide Financial Fund (IMF) and the European Central Financial institution (ECB) are included, South Korea’s place successfully falls to forty first.
The US held the world’s largest gold reserves at 8,133.5 tons, adopted by Germany with 3,350.3 tons, Italy 2,451.9 tons, France 2,437 tons, Russia 2,326.5 tons and China 2,305.4 tons.
South Korea’s complete overseas change reserves stood at US$430.7 billion as of end-November, rating ninth on the earth. Gold accounted for 3.2 p.c of the entire, putting the nation close to the underside globally.
The BOK final bought gold in 2013, and its international rating has since declined steadily from thirty second in 2013 to thirty third in 2018, thirty fourth in 2021, thirty eighth in 2024 and additional to thirty ninth final 12 months.
The central financial institution has cited gold’s comparatively low liquidity and excessive worth volatility in contrast with different belongings, reminiscent of bonds and equities, as main causes for its cautious stance on further purchases.
In distinction, the World Gold Council mentioned in a report issued final 12 months that central banks worldwide amassed greater than 1,000 tons of gold yearly over the previous three years, far exceeding the roughly 500 tons per 12 months common seen over the earlier decade, amid heightened geopolitical and financial uncertainty.
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