The Bank of Korea(BOK) held its key interest rate steady at two-point-five percent amid pressure on the housing market and heightened volatility in the foreign exchange market, as the won continued to weaken against the U.S. dollar.

The central bank announced the decision Thursday morning after the year’s final Monetary Policy Board meeting.

It marks the fourth consecutive freeze at two-point-five percent, following meetings in July, August and October. The bank cut rates by zero-point-25 percentage points in February and May.

The Korean won recently hit its weakest level in seven months against the greenback, fluctuating around one-thousand-470 won per dollar, raising concerns that a rate cut could further depreciate the currency.

The housing market also remains fragile, and authorities are monitoring whether measures announced in October are curbing rising home prices in the capital area and household loans.