What does chon mean?
The chon is a former fractional monetary unit of Korea, defined as one hundredth of a won. It served as an official unit of account in both South Korea and North Korea, appearing in price lists, ledgers, and official exchange tables even though coins denominated in chon were seldom issued or circulated. Today the word survives mainly in historical and numismatic writing: readers encounter it when consulting older economic records, accounts of mid-twentieth-century Korea, or catalogues of East Asian currency. Because it names a defunct subunit, "chon" carries no emotional connotation and is used neutrally and technically. Its interest lies less in current usage than in what it reveals about how national currencies are formally subdivided, on the model of the cent or the penny. For anyone reading primary sources about Korea's monetary history, knowing that a hundred chon made one won is essential to interpreting the figures correctly.
nounA former monetary unit of South Korea and North Korea, equal in value to one hundredth of a won. It existed only as a unit of account and was rarely represented by circulating coinage.
- A former South Korean and North Korean monetary unit equal to one hundredth of a won.
- The corresponding subdivision of the Mongolian tugrik (also spelled möngö's counterpart in some transliterations); more commonly rendered 'mongo'.
"The old ledger recorded the price of rice in chon rather than in whole won."
"The ticket cost only a few chon under the old system."
"Historical accounts of pre-1962 Korea often list prices in chon and won."
Typically left unchanged in the plural, following the pattern of other East Asian currency subunits such as yen and sen.
"Prices were quoted at fifty chon per item."
Korea's won was once divided into 100 chon — a subdivision so small that most Koreans never saw an actual chon coin in their lives.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chon
The word "chon" comes from the Korean jeon (전), itself borrowed from Chinese qian (钱), meaning "cash" or "money," reflecting the long-standing influence of Chinese monetary terminology across East Asia. It entered English through romanized Korean during the twentieth century as dictionaries and economic texts documented the won and its subdivisions.
How chon is actually used
"Chon" is chiefly encountered in historical, economic, or numismatic contexts, since the subunit has not been used for everyday transactions. It should not be confused with the Mongolian subunit "mongo" or with Japanese terms romanized similarly.
Easily confused with chon
A chonmage is a traditional topknot hairstyle worn by samurai in Japan, whereas a chon is a Korean monetary subunit.