(LEAD) BOK holds key rate steady at 3 pct after 2 consecutive rate hikes

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(ATTN: ADDS more details from 6th para, byline; CHANGES photo) By Kim Boram

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- The Bank of Korea (BOK) kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged Thursday following two consecutive rate hikes to tame accelerating inflation amid protracting Middle East tensions and robust exports.

In a widely anticipated decision, the BOK's Monetary Policy Board held the key rate steady at 3 percent in its rate-setting meeting.

The rate freeze came after the BOK raised the benchmark rate in its July and August meetings, citing "preemptive action" to curb mounting inflationary pressure and ensure macroeconomic stability.

The earlier decisions marked the first back-to-back rate hikes since January 2023, when the central bank raised the rate at seven consecutive meetings starting in April 2022.

The central bank paused its tightening cycle amid concerns that higher borrowing costs could place greater financial burden on lower-income households.

Bank of Korea (BOK) Gov. Shin Hyun-song (C) chairs the BOK Monetary Policy Board meeting at the central bank's headquarters in Seoul on Oct. 22, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

However, the BOK has signaled it will maintain a hawkish stance for the time being amid inflationary pressures from rising oil prices and renewed uncertainty in the Middle East, as well as a stronger-than-expected economic recovery.

Consumer prices have hovered around the 3 percent level in recent months, rising 2.8 percent in July, 3.1 percent in August and 2.9 percent in September.

Inflation is expected to remain at a similar level in October amid rising oil prices linked to escalating military tensions in the Middle East.

BOK Gov. Shin Hyun-song has said the central bank will continue tightening monetary policy until inflation is firmly on track to reach its 2 percent target.

Solid economic growth has also supported the BOK's hawkish stance, with Asia's fourth-largest economy expanding 1.8 percent in the first quarter and 0.6 percent in the second quarter.

The country's current account surplus reached US$279.2 billion in the first eight months of the year, more than quadrupling from the same period last year.

The BOK raised its 2026 growth forecast to 3.3 percent from 2.6 percent in August, suggesting the economy could expand by as much as 3.6 percent, supported by robust semiconductor exports amid strong demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.

Market experts expect the BOK to deliver another rate hike at its next policy meeting, scheduled for Nov. 26.

Bank of Korea (BOK) Gov. Shin Hyun-song bangs the gavel during the BOK Monetary Policy Board meeting at the central bank's headquarters in Seoul on Oct. 22, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

93 pct of bond experts eye rate freeze this week: poll

Analysts forecast BOK to hold benchmark rate unchanged at upcoming meeting: poll

BOK chief stresses need to curb inflation amid AI boom, Mideast crisis

(2nd LD) BOK chief says back-to-back rate hikes bought time to respond to financial risks

(LEAD) BOK holds key rate steady at 3 pct after 2 consecutive rate hikes

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（注意：第六段新增更多细节，署名；更换照片）作者：金宝蓝

首尔，10月22日（韩联社）——韩国央行周四维持基准利率不变。此前，为抑制中东持续紧张局势和强劲出口背景下不断加速的通胀，韩国央行已连续两次加息。

在备受瞩目的决定中，韩国央行货币政策委员会在利率制定会议上将关键利率维持在 3% 不变。

韩国央行在 7 月和 8 月的会议上提高了基准利率，随后宣布冻结利率，理由是采取“先发制人”措施来遏制不断上升的通胀压力，确保宏观经济稳定。

此前的决定标志着自 2023 年 1 月以来首次连续加息，当时央行从 2022 年 4 月开始连续七次会议加息。

由于担心更高的借贷成本可能会给低收入家庭带来更大的经济负担，央行暂停了紧缩政策。

2026年10月22日，韩国央行行长申铉松（中）在首尔央行总部主持召开韩国央行货币政策委员会会议。（联营照片）（韩联社）

然而，鉴于油价上涨带来的通胀压力、中东局势的再次不确定性以及强于预期的经济复苏，韩国央行已表示将暂时维持鹰派立场。

近几个月来，消费者价格一直徘徊在 3% 左右，7 月份上涨 2.8%，8 月份上涨 3.1%，9 月份上涨 2.9%。

受中东军事紧张局势升级导致油价上涨的影响，预计10月份通胀率将维持在类似水平。

韩国央行行长申铉松表示，央行将继续收紧货币政策，直到通胀率稳步走上实现2%目标的轨道。

稳健的经济增长也支撑了韩国央行的鹰派立场，亚洲第四大经济体韩国第一季度增长1.8%，第二季度增长0.6%。

今年前八个月，该国经常账户盈余达到2792亿美元，比去年同期增长了四倍多。

韩国央行在8月份将2026年经济增长预期从2.6%上调至3.3%，这意味着在强劲的半导体出口和对人工智能（AI）基础设施的强劲需求的支撑下，韩国经济可能增长高达3.6%。

市场专家预计韩国央行将在11月26日举行的下一次政策会议上再次加息。

2026年10月22日，韩国央行行长申铉松在首尔央行总部举行的韩国央行货币政策委员会会议上敲响法槌。（联营照片）（韩联社）

民调显示，93%的债券专家预计本周利率将维持不变。

分析师预测韩国央行将在即将召开的会议上维持基准利率不变：民调

韩国央行行长强调，在人工智能蓬勃发展和中东危机的背景下，需要抑制通胀。

（第二条）韩国央行行长表示，连续加息为应对金融风险争取了时间。

（导语）韩国央行在连续两次加息后，维持关键利率在3%不变