The Bank of Korea has frozen its key interest rate at the current, all-time low of one-point-five percent. 
 
At its monthly monetary policy committee meeting on Thursday, the central bank left the benchmark rate unchanged for a fifth month, after lowering it to one-point-five percent in June.
 
Analysts said the latest decision comes amid speculation that the U.S. Federal Reserve may increase its interest rate in December. 
 
Growth in household debt last month, which was the largest jump ever recorded, also likely contributed to the South Korean central bank's decision to continue monitoring financial markets.