The foreign exchange transaction volume reached the highest level since 2009 in the first quarter due, in part, to more foreign investment in domestic bonds.

According to Bank of Korea data on Thursday, the daily average foreign exchange transaction volume recorded 57-point-one billion dollars during the January to March period, up more than 14 percent from the previous quarter.

It's the highest since 2009 among officially disclosed data.

In detail, the daily average transaction of spot exchanges grew 16 percent from the previous quarter to over 22-point-seven billion dollars. The transaction of foreign exchange derivatives rose 12-point-eight percent to well over 34 billion dollars.

The Bank of Korea attributed the rise to eased North Korea-related risks, expanded foreign investment in domestic bonds and an increase in overseas bond issuance by South Korean firms.