South Korea officially expressed its support on Tuesday for French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde as the next chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

"I believe Minister Largarde can serve as the IMF managing director excellently as the minister showed coordination ability through the G20 meetings on top of the broad support for her both from European countries and emerging nations," South Korean Finance Minister Bahk Jae-wan said at a meeting with local reporters.

Bahk said the top IMF post should be taken by a person who can lead the global economic recovery and coordinate the diverse interests among members.

According to local media reports, the finance ministry has already delivered its intention to support Lagarde to Australia, which now represents the IMF's Asia-Pacific members.

Lagarde is competing with Agustin Carstens, the Mexican central banker for the top post of IMF. The former IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigned last month after being charged with sexual assault.