1 South Korean Won Banknote (1962 Issue)

1 Won Won (Issued 1962)

The 1 Won note of 1962 belongs to the inaugural series of Won-denominated banknotes issued by the Bank of Korea following South Korea’s currency reform of that year, which replaced the Hwan with the Won at a ratio of ten to one. Across the series, a consistent visual language of guilloché patterning and Korean script was employed to establish the new currency’s identity, and the 1 Won represents the lowest denomination within this founding family. Its small physical format and simplified design distinguish it from the higher-value notes in the same series, which carried more elaborate portraiture and architectural imagery. The note was withdrawn from circulation and is no longer legal tender.

On the front, the design is dominated by a warm golden-amber and violet colour scheme, with an intricate central medallion rendered in deep purple guilloché work. The medallion takes the form of a layered, star-shaped rosette with concentric geometric borders, at the centre of which sits a small diamond motif containing what appears to be the Taeguk symbol. Surrounding the central medallion, the background field is filled with a repeating pattern of small circular rosettes set against a golden ground, creating a dense, textile-like security print. The issuing authority’s name appears in Korean characters — 한국은행 (Hanguk Eunhaeng, meaning Bank of Korea) — printed across the upper portion of the note in bold reddish-brown ink. To the left, the denomination is rendered vertically in Korean script reading 일 원 (il won), set within an oval border. The numeral “1” appears in the upper right corner within a circular guilloché frame. The serial number S 5187691 is printed in red along the lower left area. A circular red official seal of the Bank of Korea is visible to the right of centre, bearing Korean characters. Below the lower border, small Korean text reads 한국조폐공사제조, indicating that the note was manufactured by the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation.

The reverse presents a clean and boldly typographic composition in the same purple and golden-amber palette. The English inscription “THE BANK OF KOREA” is printed in large, prominent capital letters across the top of the note within a banner, framed by a thin rectangular border. The central panel features two large symmetrical guilloché lozenges or cartouches, elaborately engraved with fine latticework and interlocking geometric patterns in deep violet against the amber ground. Set across these two cartouches, the large numeral “1” is printed in white, commanding the centre of the composition. Directly below the numeral, the word “WON” appears in white capitals within a solid purple rectangular banner. At each of the four corners of the reverse, a decorative rosette motif — resembling a stylised floral or compass-point form — provides symmetrical ornamentation. The overall impression is of a precisely printed, security-conscious design that relies entirely on geometric engraving rather than portraiture for its visual authority.

Wondering who buys foreign coins and notes? Webuyallcurrency.com does — a 1 Won banknote like this is accepted alongside other old or withdrawn South Korean Won banknotes, so you can exchange the lot for cash at once.

• Indicate the quantity of 1 Won Won banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

Wondering who buys foreign coins and banknotes? Webuyallcurrency.com does — bring your South Korean Won banknotes together with any other old or withdrawn currency and exchange it all for cash in one place.

Other South Korean Won you can exchange: 0.1, 0.5, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000.