Bank of Korea leaves rates at 1.50 percent, as expected

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's central bank held its key interest rate steady on Thursday, as expected, as it monitors the effects of its November hike.

A Bank of Korea media official did not elaborate on the monetary policy committee's decision to keep the base rate at 1.50 percent. Governor Lee Ju-yeol is due to hold a news conference from 0220 GMT.

All 17 analysts in a Reuters poll had forecast the central bank would hold rates steady on Thursday.

(Reporting by Cynthia Kim and Christine Kim; Editing by Sam Holmes)