The Korean iPod, now 30% more expensive!

The Korea Times reports that the price of Apple's iPods will be increased in Korea due to the diminished value of the Korean won.

The international exchange of currency has had a varied impact on the tech industry recently. In January, for example, Nintendo had to tune down its 2009 revenue projections because the Yen increased in value, thereby devaluing exports by a fraction when weighed against the softening dollar and euro. Korea's currency has slid down from about 1,100 on the dollar to the neighborhood of 1,500 on the dollar.

Apple is therefore dealing with an exchange rate of around 1,400 won on the dollar, which necessitates an increase to the retail price of its hardware. An 8 GB iPod Nano, for example, has climbed in price from 180,000 to 249,000 won, and the 32 GB iPod Touch has escalated from 489,000 to 659,000 won.