BOK freezes key interest rates at 3.25 pct

South Korea's central bank said Friday it froze the benchmark interest rate at 3.25 percent for November, leaving the 7-day repo rate unchanged for a fifth straight month.The Bank of Korea (BOK)'s decision was in line with market expectations as experts forecast the central bank's commitment to rate normalization would weaken due to renewed concerns over Europe's debt crisis and eased headline inflation. The BOK has lifted the borrowing costs by a total of 125 basis points in five steps to 3.25 percent since July last year. The bank raised the key rate in January, March and June this year.