A Chilean trade official has expressed regret over the third postponement of a parliamentary vote on the free trade agreement with South Korea.

An official of the South Korean Embassy in Santiago said that the Chilean government and news media had shown keen interest in the outcome of the vote. The official said a Chilean trade director had phoned the embassy to inquire about the results and expressed regret upon hearing of the delay.

Leading Chilean daily El Mercurio had requested an interview with South Korean Ambassador to Chile Shin Jang-bum as part of a special feature on the FTA bill, but scrapped the plan upon hearing the news from Seoul.