The Bank of Korea said on the 13th that it destroyed 364.01 million damaged banknotes and coins last year. By face value, the total came to 2.8404 trillion won. If the discarded currency were lined up side by side, the total length would be 44,043 km—enough to circle the Earth (about 40,000 km) and then some. Stacked vertically, it would reach 147,017 meters, which is 17 times Mount Everest (8,849 m) and 265 times Lotte World Tower (555 m).
According to the Bank of Korea (BOK) that day, the number of damaged notes and coins destroyed last year fell 23.3% from 474.89 million in 2024. By amount, it decreased 18.9% from the previous year (3.3761 trillion won).
By type, 295.18 million banknotes (2.8286 trillion won by face value) and 68.82 million coins (11.8 billion won) were destroyed, respectively. Among banknotes, 10,000-won bills accounted for the most at 145.49 million, or 49.3% of the total. They were followed by 1,000-won bills (103.99 million, 35.2%), 50,000-won bills (23.14 million, 7.8%), and 5,000-won bills (22.57 million, 7.6%).
Among discarded coins, 100-won coins were the most at 30.19 million, or 43.9%. Next were 500-won coins (16.64 million, 24.2%), 10-won coins (16.36 million, 23.8%), and 50-won coins (5.63 million, 8.2%).
According to the Bank of Korea (BOK), if a banknote is damaged by fire or other causes, holders can receive the full face value back if at least 75% of the note's area remains. If 40% or more but less than 75% remains, holders can receive half the face value, and if less than 40% remains, they cannot receive any value. For coins, exchange at face value is possible except when the shape is unrecognizable or it is difficult to determine whether they are counterfeit.