SEOUL, Dec 13 (Reuters) - South Korea's central bank held interest rates at 2.75 percent on Thursday, as expected, marking the second consecutive month of steady rates following a 25 basis-point rate cut in October.

The Bank of Korea's monetary policy committee kept its base rate at 2.75 percent, a media official said without elaborating. Governor Kim Choong-soo is expected to hold a news conference from 11:20 a.m. (0220 GMT).

The following is a chronology of the Bank of Korea's main policy rate changes since it began setting the policy rate target in May 1999:

- - - -

Oct. 11, 2012 Down 25 bp to 2.75 percent

July 12, 2012 Down 25 bp to 3.00 percent

June 10, 2011 Up 25 bp to 3.25 percent

March 10, 2011 Up 25 bp to 3.00 percent

Jan. 13, 2011 Up 25 bp to 2.75 percent

Nov. 16, 2010 Up 25 bp to 2.50 percent

July 9, 2010 Up 25 bp to 2.25 percent

Feb. 12, 2009 Down 50 bp to 2.00 percent

Jan. 9, 2009 Down 50 bp to 2.50 percent

Dec. 11, 2008 Down 100 bp to 3.00 percent

Nov. 7, 2008 Down 25 bp to 4.00 percent

*Oct. 27, 2008 Down 75 bp to 4.25 percent

Oct. 9, 2008 Down 25 bp to 5.00 percent

Aug. 7, 2008 Up 25 bp to 5.25 percent

Aug. 9, 2007 Up 25 bp to 5.0 percent

July 12, 2007 Up 25 bp to 4.75 percent

Aug. 10, 2006 Up 25 bp to 4.50 percent

June 8, 2006 Up 25 bp to 4.25 percent

Feb. 9, 2006 Up 25 bp to 4.00 percent

Dec. 8, 2005 Up 25 bp to 3.75 percent

Oct. 11, 2005 Up 25 bp to 3.50 percent

Nov. 11, 2004 Down 25 bp to 3.25 percent

Aug. 12, 2004 Down 25 bp to 3.5 percent

July 10, 2003 Down 25 bp to 3.75 percent

May 13, 2003 Down 25 bp to 4.0 percent

May 7, 2002 Up 25 bp to 4.25 percent

*Sept. 19, 2001 Down 50 bp to 4.0 percent

Aug. 9, 2001 Down 25 bp to 4.5 percent

July 5, 2001 Down 25 bp to 4.75 percent

Feb. 8, 2001 Down 25 bp to 5.0 percent

Oct. 5, 2000 Up 25 bp to 5.25 percent

Feb. 10, 2000 Up 25 bp to 5.0 percent

May 6, 1999 Set at 4.75 percent

* shows inter-meeting rate changes

(Reporting by Christine Kim; Editing by John Mair) Keywords: KOREA ECONOMY/RATES

(christine.kim@thomsonreuters.com)(822 3704 5665)(Reuters Messaging: christine.kim.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)

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