[Bank of Korea Implements Won Devaluation... Exchange Rate Adjusted from 800 to 850 KRW per Dollar]

[Foreign Currency Shortage Resurfaces, “Collapse-by-Dollar” Theory Returns... Predictions of ‘Currency Crisis’ Within Three Years. Government Announces Plan to Increase Dollar Reserves to $40 Billion]

—Rustle.

“Huh? Korean newspaper? What are you reading today?”

Seo Ji-yeon leaned forward and blinked her clear eyes as she asked.

I smiled faintly.

“Something interesting came up.”

I had intended for this, but perhaps the secondary financial companies were more sensitive due to their smaller scale. I thought they wouldn’t respond until around June this year, but they jumped sooner.

There had been some grumbling from these institutions about a dollar shortage, but it wasn’t urgent just yet.

South Korea was operating under a peg system—essentially, a fixed exchange rate. No matter what the market price of the dollar was, the Bank of Korea was obligated to exchange $1 for exactly 850 won.

Still...

“They’ve gotten competent after all.”

“Competent...? Um, by your standards, Miss?”

Not knowing the Korean economic history of my previous life, Ji-yeon tilted her head in confusion.

From her perspective, the current Bank of Korea probably still looked incompetent. But compared to Miss Yoo Ha-yeon, anyone would look incompetent.

Thanks to the survival of capable bureaucrats who would’ve otherwise died in the bombing, this version of Korea had managed to endure a little—no, significantly better. Most of them had since retired, but the knowledge they had passed down and the institutional memory had made the economic foundations much more solid.

—Shrug.

“No, even objectively speaking. Compared to other East Asian countries... like Thailand or Malaysia, this is way better.”

Because they endured well, there’s still plenty left for me to squeeze dry before collapse—and recovery will be easier afterward too.

It’s a good thing. If Korea collapses completely, I take a huge loss too.

“...Hmm. Weren’t you trying to bring Korea down though?”

“Oh my, what makes you think that?”