Kim So-young, a 35-year-old Seoul resident, said she decided to convert some of her savings into U.S. dollars. “I’ve been watching the won’s value relative to the U.S. dollar closely for weeks,” she said, adding that she saw an opportunity when the won gained briefly at the end of last month, following a government intervention. “I decided to buy U.S. dollars before the won weakens again. I think the Korean currency is likely to lose ground in the coming months, earning me money. Many could say it’s speculation, but I think this is a sound investment choice in light of market volatility," Kim said. She said she knew it was right the right move after watching a news report about a Hana Bank branch in Gangnam, southern Seoul, that ran out of $100 bills on Dec. 24. The branch made headlines after it posted a notice informing customers that U.S. currency was unavailable. “Many, like me, must have believed that the strong demand for dollars would continue and that any gain in the Korean won would be short-lived," she said. She is among many investors putting their holdings of the