North Korean Won Symbol: A Quick Guide For Australians

Key Highlights

• The north korean won is the official currency of north korea. You often see it with the korean won symbol ₩.

• The current series of banknotes came in after the currency reform in 2009. The old notes are not legal tender anymore.

• When people write or use the currency online, the symbol is usually ₩. The code for the north korean won is KPW.

• The central bank gives out north korean currency for the country’s current series of banknotes.

• Australians might spot the symbol online, but real access and currency exchange are still pretty limited.

Introduction

If you have ever seen the north korean won symbol and wondered what it is, you are not the only one. Many people in Australia get confused because north korea and South Korea each have a separate currency, but both call it the korean won and use the ₩ sign. This short guide will show you how the north korean won is written, where people might see it, and why the way it is used in north korea is not the same as what many expect in normal currency exchange.

Understanding the North Korean Won Symbol

The north korean won is shown by the same sign you see in other parts of Korea: ₩. This is the sign for the official currency of north korea. It is often listed as KPW in lists or on money exchange sites.

The north korean currency is under strong control by the state. The central bank, the rules in the country, and daily life all help to shape how the currency is used. The sign is important, but so are these controls. To make this clear, let’s look at the official sign, how it looks online, and see how it lines up with the south korean won.

Official Currency Symbol for the North Korean Won

The north korean won uses the symbol ₩ as its official sign. The same won symbol is for korean won in general. It looks like a big W with two lines across it. Most people see this as the sign for the official currency of north korea.

You might also see it written as KPW. People use this code to tell the north korean won apart from the south korean won. This is handy when you’re looking at money lists, exchange rates, or online tools which show both.

If you are reading prices or money notes, the ₩ sign is the main clue you are looking at the north korean won. The central bank gives out this money. But the sign is how people know they are talking about the official currency of north korea, what people use in shops or when talking about the korean won money system in north korea.

North Korean Won Symbol in Unicode and Digital Settings

In Unicode and most places you see online, the north korean won sign shows up as ₩. This is the regular symbol the digital world uses for korean won money. You can spot it on screens, websites, your keyboard, and in many types of software. So, when you ask what symbol is in Unicode for the north korean won, it’s the same one people see every day.

In normal digital life, this symbol on its own might not be enough. Both north korean and south korean use the ₩ for won. Because of that, a lot of websites add the currency code KPW. The code helps stop mix-ups, especially when there is also KRW for south korean won right there on the app or website.

• Symbol shown on screen: ₩

• Currency code often used with it: KPW

• Common purpose in digital settings: separating the north korean won from other won listings

So, Unicode lets you have the symbol, but you need to know the context to get which one it is. If you are in Australia and checking out exchange rates online, telling the difference between these can be important.

Comparison with South Korean Won Symbol

Here is the key point: the north korean won symbol is not visually different from the South Korean one. Both use ₩. That means the sign itself does not tell you whether a price refers to north korean won or south korean won. You need context, country name, or the currency code.

In practice, the difference appears in how each currency is labelled. The Republic of Korea uses KRW for the south korean won, while North Korea uses KPW for the north korean won. This matters in exchange tools, banking references, and written listings.

So yes, the symbol is used differently mainly through labelling, not through a different sign.

North Korean Won Symbol on Banknotes and Coins

The north korean won sign can be found on both coins and paper money. You may see something different, though, depending on if you look at old notes or the current series of banknotes. After a big change in 2009, the old notes were not legal tender from November 30th. People started using the new notes on December 7th.

This change made the symbol part of a bigger story. It says a lot about how things like design, values of the money, and state control work with money there. The central bank is the one in charge, and that’s why you see the symbol as part of its style. Up next, let’s see how the sign shows up on notes, coinage, and the different values.

Visual Appearance of the Won Symbol on Notes

On banknotes, the won symbol looks like a big W with two lines across it, showing the standard ₩ sign. It is pretty simple and easy to spot. The symbol, when printed with numbers, tells you the value of the north korean won in a clear and official way.

You will see the symbol in designs that show state themes and important images of the country. There is also information that shows how these designs have changed over the years, like when they changed the ₩5000 note in 2014. That change took off the face of kim il sung and put in pictures of his birth house in Manggyongdae, plus the international friendship exhibition.

While this material does not go over all note styles, you can see that the won symbol is more than just for show. It is part of a bigger design style, not just something pretty. If you are used to looking for a national flower or someone’s portrait on your money, the symbol helps you spot the value beside the note’s main image. The north korean won and the korean won both use symbols and themes like these on their notes.

Examples of the Symbol on Coinage

Yes, you can see real examples of the north korean won symbol used in everyday life with actual coins and notes. The information put together lists coins that start at ₩1, and it also shows the ₩5000 note in the current system. This means the symbol is on normal denominations and used on both coins and paper money.

If you want to picture it, the north korean won symbol is often seen before the number. You see it like this in chats about prices, collector items, or general talk about money. It works the same way as other money signs you know.

• ₩1 coin shows a smaller value.

• ₩5000 note shows a bigger value.

• Old north korean currency found in souvenir shops is another way to spot the symbol.

These examples prove the north korean won symbol is used with real values of the official currency of north korea, although it’s hard for people from other countries to get their hands on it.

Variations of the Symbol Across Denominations

The symbol for north korean currency does not change with different values. This means that whether you see it on low-value coins or higher-value notes, it will still be the same won symbol: ₩. What changes is how much the note is worth, the design, and if you are looking at old notes or something from the current series.

This is important because north korea has used three kinds of won. The current series came in after the 2009 revaluation. Earlier ones are mostly for collectors or people who like souvenirs. So the sign has always been the same, even as the north korean currency system changed.

With each series of banknotes, the main thing that changes is the look. Different values can show official pictures and have different styles, but the symbol lets you know it is won. For you, the number says how much the note is worth, but the won symbol shows that it comes from the north korean currency family.

Everyday Use of the Won Symbol in North Korea

The north korean won symbol can be seen in settings that deal with official papers, local payment systems, and daily money use where the DPRK currency is used by the people. But, this information shows that use of the currency can be limited, mostly for foreign visitors. You may see this outside of places like the Kwangbok Department Store or Rason.

So, if you expect currency exchange to work in an open way like it does in other places, things are more closely watched in north korea. The next parts talk about where the korean won symbol is used for official reasons, what other ways to show it there are, and how sites online can show it.

Presence on Official Documents and Signage

Yes, you can see the north korean won symbol used in official places in north korea because it stands for the country’s legal tender. When they need to show prices in their own money, people use the symbol or the currency’s name. The north korean government puts out this money, so that’s why it is common in these settings.

The information you find says the same thing about its official use. In 2009, the old notes stopped being legal tender, and new ones came out in December that year. That kind of swap is something that only happens when the north korean government controls money.

You will notice signs for shops and payments in north korea sometimes with won values if they are using local currency. Still, not everyone sees this much. Many times, foreign visitors have used foreign currency, so the won symbol is easier to find in papers for locals rather than things aimed at tourists.

Alternate Representations of the Won Symbol

There are a few ways to show the north korean won, even though the main sign used is ₩. People sometimes use the code KPW, especially if they want things to be clear. This often happens after a currency reform or when someone has to talk about old and new types of cash in writing.

Sometimes, you might see the full name written out instead of the symbol. This can be common in travel guides or when talking about banknotes. In Rason, there is a local debit card. This card links up to a north korean bank account. It lets people use the currency without seeing the symbol on paper.

• ₩ as the standard won symbol

• KPW as the code-based representation

• Full currency name in descriptions of banknotes or exchange information

These different ways to write out or show the north korean won help people know what the currency is. This is good if the symbol could get mixed up with the symbol for another korean won.

Symbol Use in Currency Exchange Apps and Online Platforms

On currency exchange apps and online platforms, you will see the north korean won symbol as ₩. But, it is KPW that shows which won it really is. This matters because the ₩ sign can also mean the south korean currency. That is why these digital tools use both the symbol and the three-letter code to help people stay clear about which money it is.

This gets even more important since information about the north korean won exchange rate can be odd. The details put out show that the rate you get online is often not the same as the real, unofficial rate for north korean won. That list also breaks down the 2026 rates by USD, EUR, japanese yen, and Chinese RMB.

If you are someone in Australia looking up foreign exchange rates, there is one thing you need to remember. If you see the won sign, check for KPW next to it. That is how you know you are looking at the rate for north korean won, not any other kind of korean won. If the KPW code is not shown, the ₩ sign on its own does not tell you quite enough.

Practical Insights for Australians

For an Australian reader, the north korean won is not something you see much unless you are adding to your collection, doing research, or looking up currency exchange. This money does not come up in most travel plans. Foreign visitors get strict limits, and even when you can change cash, you might only use it in certain places or systems.

The facts show there are big differences in the values between official and black market rates. There are also rules for hard cash and bank savings after the 2009 changes. So, we have two simple points to keep in mind: how to find the symbol for the north korean won on the keyboard and what it means in their culture.

Finding the North Korean Won Symbol on Keyboards

If you want to type the North Korean won sign, the easiest way is to look for the standard won currency symbol, ₩. The North Korean won uses the same symbol as other types of won, so most keyboards and software just treat it as the normal won symbol and not a North Korea-only key.

This means the symbol may not show up on every Australian keyboard for you to see right away. You may need to go into the symbol menus, use character tools, or pick it from Unicode options instead of finding it as a key that is already there.

• Look up your device’s currency symbol menu

• Try a Unicode-supported tool for selecting characters

• See if your keyboard layout has the won currency symbol

So, where will you find the North Korean won symbol on keyboards? It is usually under symbol options in your software, not always on the physical keyboard itself. The one you want is ₩.

north korean won

Cultural Meaning Behind the Won Symbol

The won symbol is mainly used to show value. It does not have a big story on its own. If you ask about cultural meaning in the north korean won sign, you will see that most meaning is found in the overall banknote design, not just the ₩ symbol.

One example shows this clearly. In 2014, the ₩5000 note changed. The face of Kim Il Sung was taken off. His birth house in Manggyongdae and the International Friendship Exhibition were added instead. This change lets you know how images and history are sent out with money.

So, there is cultural meaning with the north korean won. But you find it in note themes, pictures, places, and big symbols on the currency. That meaning does not come from the shape of the won sign only. The symbol stays simple, and the note design does most of the cultural work.

Conclusion

To sum up, it’s good for Australians to know about the North Korean won symbol. This helps if you want to talk about money or plan a trip there. The north korean won symbol has a look you won’t see elsewhere, and it means a lot to the people. You can spot it on notes, coins, and even on digital money screens. When you see or use the north korean won, just knowing what it looks like can give you more knowledge about world valuta. If you have any questions about korean won or need some help with swapping money or anything to do with money from other lands, just give us a shout. We’re here to help you out!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the North Korean won symbol recognised internationally?

The north korean won symbol looks like the won sign, but people know it depends on where you see it. Because the ₩ symbol is also used for other won currencies, the official currency of north korea is often called KPW or is marked with a country label. The central bank link is official, although people in other countries do not use it much.

Can Australians access currency exchange rates for the won symbol online?

Yes, an australian reader can see information about north korean won exchange rate on many online platforms. But, this may not show how it is for people in north korea. The information found on these sites gives the unofficial values. It also says that the normal exchange rates you see can be very different from what happens in real life.

Are there any restrictions on using the North Korean won symbol outside North Korea?

There is no rule that stops people from typing or showing the north korean won symbol outside of north korea. But when it comes to the actual currency, it is not that simple. The north korean won is the legal tender used in north korea. Some reports say you can face limits if you try to take the cash out of the country. This is not like other foreign currency use in most places.