The renewed weakness of the Korean currency against the U.S. dollar was a major factor in the central bank’s latest decision to freeze the key policy rate, the nation's top monetary policymaker said Thursday. Five of the six rate-setting members of the monetary policy board thought that the rate freeze is likely to remain in place, while the remaining member said the possibility of a cut should be left open, according to the bank’s three-month forward guidance. “Currency considerations were undeniably the main determinant in the monetary policy decision to leave the key rate at 2.5 percent,” Bank of Korea Gov. Rhee Chang-yong said during a press conference at the bank headquarters in Seoul. The won strengthened by about 40 won to trade at around 1,430 per dollar by the end of last year, but has since slid into the mid- to high-1,400 won range this year, a development he said warrants caution. About 75 percent of the won’s year-to-date weakness is attributable to U.S. dollar strength, yen weakness and geopolitical risks involving Venezuela, while the remaining 25 percent reflect