Seoul: Won, shares finish lower amid political jitters

[SEOUL] The South Korean won edged down on Friday, amid political jitters over a scandal linking President Park Geun-hye to an associate who may have meddled in state affairs, which weighed on the currency.

The won was quoted at 1,144.9 to the US dollar at the conclusion of onshore trade, down 0.2 per cent compared with Thursday's close of 1,142.5.

South Korean shares also inched down with the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) closing down 0.2 per cent at 2,019.42 points.

A survey released on Thursday by pollster Realmeter showed Ms Park's popularity has slumped to 17.5 per cent, the lowest since she took office in February 2013.

REUTERS