Vice finance minister to attend BOK rate-setting meetings this year

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yon hap) -- South Korea's vice finance minister will attend the
rate-setting committee of the central bank starting this year in order to voice
the government's opinions on the overall monetary policy direction, government
officials said Thursday.

Vice Finance Minister Hur Kyung-wook will take part in the first such a meeting
of the seven-member Monetary Policy Committee this year held by the Bank of Korea
on Friday, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance in a statement.
It is unusual that finance ministry policymakers attend the monthly rate-setting
meeting as the government has sought to guarantee independence of the nation's
central bank in its monetary policy direction.
The move, however, is aimed at providing the government with a chance to voice
its opinions in deciding the nation's monetary policy direction, according to the
ministry.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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