The Bank of Korea(BOK) says the nation's economic growth next year could fall short of the two-point-eight percent it projected in October due to various uncertainties.
 
In a briefing made before the National Assembly's Finance Committee on Thursday, the central bank said the domestic economy will continue a gradual climb alongside a recovery in the global economy. 

It added, however, that uncertainties loom large on the nation's growth path considering recent changes internally and externally.
 
The BOK counted rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve, an expansion in protectionism and a slump in economic sentiment stemming from political uncertainties as negative factors affecting the economy.
 
Some local think tanks including the Korea Economic Research Institute, the LG Economic Research Institute and the Korea Development Institute, have estimated next year's growth to land in the low-to-mid two percent range. 

The government is expected to lower its growth forecast from three percent to the two percent range when it announces its 2017 economic policy guidelines next Thursday.