Anchor: The Bank of Korea left the key rate unchanged at one-point-25 percent as expected. Growing household debt, concerns about the domestic economy and uncertainties stemmed from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's policies tied the central bank's hands.
Our Kim In-kyung has more.
 
Report: The Bank of Korea(BOK) has kept the key rate steady at the record low level of one-point-25 percent as the nation's economy is immersed in deep fog amid a growing influence-peddling scandal. 
 
Members of the central bank's monetary policy committee made the widely expected decision at its monthly meeting on Friday on concerns about sharply higher household debt since a quarter-percentage-point cut in interest rates in June.  

Household debt by banks increased seven-point-five trillion won in October while measures by the government to curb debt haven't been effective.
 
Uncertainties in the domestic economy as well as across the globe also restrained the central bank's moves. Although a fall in the dollar and stocks around the world following Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential race have recovered, concerns remain about the unpredictability of his policies.
 
Trump's election has also cast doubt over the assumption that the U.S. Federal Reserve will raise interest rates at its December policy meeting. The Fed had strongly indicated that it would hike rates next month after being on hold since lifting rates in December 2015. But expectations have been sprouting that the Fed could delay its boost as uncertainty has grown in global financial markets.
 
The BOK keeps a close tab on the Fed's policies as a rate hike in the U.S. could prompt an outflow of foreign investment funds. 
 
Meanwhile, the South Korean economy has been in a slump over the production halt of Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Note 7 smartphones, walkouts at Hyundai Motor and the bankruptcy of Hanjin Shipping. However, the Choi Soon-sil scandal has created a vacuum in the control tower for the economy. Although a new finance minister has been nominated, his appointment is being delayed as the National Assembly has been stuck over the scandal.
 
The central bank stayed pat this month, but it isn't easy to forecast the BOK's moves going forward. Calls for slashing the interest rates could grow next year if a new wave of protectionism in the U.S. hurts South Korea's exports.
Kim In-kyung, KBS World Radio News.