The Office for Government Policy Coordination has ordered public officials to refrain from investing in digital coins after a financial official was found to have sold cryptocurrency before the government's announcement of related regulations. 

Office for Government Policy Coordination Minister Hong Nam-ki issued the instruction on Thursday during a meeting of vice ministers in Seoul, saying it's inappropriate for civil servants to trade in cryptocurrencies especially during work hours. 

The instruction came after an official at the Financial Supervisory Service(FSS) allegedly sold off his cryptocurrency coins before the release of the government's updated measures to regulate the market. 

The FSS official is known to have been a member of the task force preparing the measures. 

Minister Hong told the parliamentary committee on national policy on Thursday that he ordered investigations into a couple of similar cases.

Currently, there are no regulations or guidelines that prohibit public officials from investing in cryptocurrencies.