The Bank of Korea (BOK) faces a dilemma over whether to raise its policy rate at a meeting later this week, as stronger-than-expected economic growth supports another hike while record-high household debt poses a growing concern, market watchers said Monday. The central bank will hold its Monetary Policy Board meeting Thursday to decide the policy rate, which currently stands at 2.75 percent after the BOK raised it by 25 basis points last month. Markets are closely watching whether the central bank will deliver a second consecutive rate hike or pause after last month's increase. Economists who expect another rate hike point to stronger-than-expected second-quarter growth and continued inflationary pressures. Korea's economy grew 0.6 percent in the second quarter from the previous quarter, supported by strong semiconductor exports. Park Jeong-woo, an economist at Nomura Securities, said the growth momentum remained strong. "Robust economic growth continues, with gross domestic product growth above 3 percent year-on-year for two consecutive quarters," Park said. "Although the growth composit