The South Korean won, which rose 15 per cent against the US dollar last month, yesterday posted its worst loss in nine weeks, shedding 4.7 per cent on fears that the government would stop intervening to support the currency.

The won, which fell 26 per cent last year, closed at Won1,321 to the dollar after touching a low of Won1,331.6. Traders said the sell-off was sparked by suspicions that the government would stop measures to pump up the won now that companies had filed their year-end accounts.