[BREAKING] BOK keeps rate steady at 3% after two consecutive hikes

Published Oct 22, 2026 9:51 am KST

Updated Oct 22, 2026 10:46 am KST

Bank of Korea Gov. Shin Hyun-song bangs the gavel to open a Monetary Policy Board meeting at the central bank in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of BOK

The Bank of Korea (BOK) held its benchmark interest rate steady at 3 percent, Thursday, in a widely expected decision.

The hold follows two consecutive 0.25-percentage-point increases in July and August, which lifted the rate from 2.5 percent to 3 percent. The central bank described the back-to-back hikes as “a preemptive response” to mounting inflationary pressures.

Rather than push ahead with a third consecutive hike, the bank opted to take stock of the effects of its recent moves, while maintaining a hawkish stance that leaves the door open to further increases.

Expectations of a pause grew after BOK Gov. Shin Hyun-song highlighted the strain that rapid rate increases have placed on vulnerable borrowers. Holding rates steady gives policymakers time to assess the impact of higher borrowing costs on inflation, the foreign exchange market and household debt.

发布于2026年10月22日上午9:51（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月22日上午10:46（韩国标准时间）

周四，韩国央行行长申铉松在首尔央行敲响议事槌，宣布货币政策委员会会议开始。图片由韩国央行提供。

韩国央行（BOK）周四维持基准利率在3%不变，这一决定符合市场普遍预期。

此次维持利率不变，此前央行在7月和8月连续两次加息，每次加息0.25个百分点，将利率从2.5%上调至3%。央行将这两次加息描述为应对不断上升的通胀压力的“先发制人”措施。

该银行没有选择连续第三次加息，而是选择评估近期举措的效果，同时保持鹰派立场，为进一步加息敞开大门。

韩国央行行长申铉松强调快速加息给脆弱借款人带来的压力后，市场对暂停加息的预期有所上升。维持利率不变可以让政策制定者有时间评估更高的借贷成本对通胀、外汇市场和家庭债务的影响。