SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's vice finance minister will regularly attend the rate-setting committee of the central bank starting this year as the government found it necessary to voice its opinion on the monetary policy direction, local media reported Thursday.

    According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, Vice Finance Minister Hur Kyung-wook will be participating in the Bank of Korea's Monetary Policy Committee, starting from Friday.

    Government officials have not taken part in the meetings unless in emergency, as the government has guaranteed the independence of the nation's central bank.

    The decision came as the government considered it necessary to more closely work with the bank in settling monetary policy decisions amid recent disaccord between the two bodies over the issue, Yonhap said, quoting the finance ministry and local analysts.

    The upcoming move will mark the fifth attendance by the vice finance minister, with the most recent case having taken place in June 1999.

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