South Korea's won softened on Monday as the dollar firmed against major currencies after the Group of Seven nations refrained from pressuring China to loosen its yuan.
Economic concerns over high oil prices hovering near $50 a barrel and disappointing factory output data also kept the won under pressure.
But the won's drop was held in check by foreign buying in local shares that helped snap a recent selling spree and lifted the stock market to its highest close in more than five months.
The won settled domestic trade at 1,149.6 versus Friday's close of 1,148.8.