The S.Korea central bank kept the base rate unchanged at 0.75% vs a Reuters poll of 0.75%, taking a breather after its first rate hike in nearly three years in August, as a resurgence in COVID-19 cases also clouded the short-term outlook.

''The Bank of Korea (BOK) held the benchmark interest rate unchanged at 0.75%, as expected by 29 of 31 analysts polled by Reuters.

The BOK is seeking to keep the economic recovery on track, while trying to contain a surge in private-sector debt, a red-hot property market and above-target inflation,'' Reuters reported.