Korean currency slips past 1,500 won per dollar for first time in 17 years

Seoul: The South Korean currency fell past the 1,500-won level against the US dollar on Monday for the first time in 17 years as global oil prices surged amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.

The won opened at 1,501 per dollar, down 7.3 won from the previous session, breaching the 1,500-won mark for the first time in intraday trading since March 12, 2009, when the country was reeling from the global financial crisis.