[THE INVESTOR] Korea’s central bank kept its key interest rate unchanged on Jan. 18, in line with market expectations.

The monetary policy committee of the Bank of Korea left its base rate steady at 1.5 percent, an official said.

The BOK has been under pressure to raise its key rate since the US Federal Reserve started tightening its rate in late 2015.

On Nov. 30, the BOK marked up its key rate for the first time in more than six years.

Gov. Lee’s four-year term is set to end March 31 and some analysts expected the BOK to raise the base rate after a new governor is appointed.

By Alex Lee and newswires (alexlee@heraldcorp.com)