​The South Korean currency weakened past one-thouand-480 won against the U.S. dollar on Friday, hitting its lowest point since the 2009 global financial crisis.

In the Seoul foreign exchange, the local currency was trading at one-thousand-481-point-six-eight won against the dollar as of 10:59 a.m.

Based on intraday highs, this marks the highest level in 15 years and 9 months, since March 2009 during the financial crisis.

The exchange rate, which briefly paused its upward trend the previous day, surged further following Acting President Han Duck-soo's public address regarding his decision to defer the appointments of three justices to the Constitutional Court. 

The Bank of Korea's indication of a possible rate cut, driven by concerns over a domestic economic slowdown, has also negatively impacted the exchange rate.

While a high exchange rate traditionally benefits exports, analysts note that this time, positive impacts are limited due to rising costs of intermediate goods and the current trend toward protectionism.

On December 3, before President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law, the weekly dollar-won exchange rate closed at 1,402 won. Over the past 20 days, the exchange rate has climbed by approximately 80 won.

Meanwhile, South Korea's benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index(KOSPI) dropped below the two-thousand-400 threshold on Friday, marking a significant decline driven by adverse market conditions.

The KOSPI fell 33-point-92 points, or one-point-four percent, to reach two-thousand-395-point-75 as of 11:18 a.m. Friday.