Bank of Korea (BOK) Gov. Shin Hyun-song said Friday the central bank will adjust its monetary policy to a future environment of higher economic growth and interest rates, signaling it will maintain a hawkish stance for some time. In response to a question from Rep. Kim Tae-nyeon of the ruling Democratic Party during a parliamentary audit at the National Assembly, Shin agreed with the assessment that a return to the era of ultra-low interest rates would be difficult. "We will implement policies effectively in preparation for the prospect of a future environment characterized by high growth and high interest rates," he said. The central bank has adopted a more hawkish stance in recent months amid rising inflation and solid economic growth. It raised the benchmark interest rate to 3 percent in July and August, marking the first back-to-back rate hikes since January 2023. The January 2023 hike was the seventh consecutive increase in a tightening cycle that began in April 2022. Over the 3 1/2-year period, the rate was gradually lowered to 2.5 percent from 3.5 percent before the latest round of