South Korea's central bank said its governor left for the United States on Wednesday for talks with his counterparts from the world's major economies on pending economic issues and ways to stabilize global financial markets.

Bank of Korea Governor Lee Ju-yeol is scheduled to attend the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meetings in Washington on Thursday, according to the central bank.

Lee also plans to attend annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group on Friday to discuss such issues as the world's economic growth prospects and measures to stabilize the global financial market.

Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho is set to leave for Washington on Thursday for the meetings, according to officials.

Expectations are currently high that the US Federal Reserve could raise its interest rate one time this year. The Fed has maintained its target range for the federal funds rate unchanged at 0.25 percent to 0.5 percent. (Yonhap)