The nation will have to wait until Tuesday to hear the testimony of an Iraqi lawyer who allegedly engaged in unsuccessful negotiations for the release of Kim Sun-il.

Ruling party lawmaker You Sun-ho said Monday the lawyer was to arrive in Seoul Tuesday morning, one day behind schedule for her appearance before a special parliamentary panel probing the hostage case.

Rep. You said the arrival was delayed due to airline ticketing problems.

The female lawyer, identified only as "E", has been accused by some of failing to exert her full efforts to win the release of Kim. He was beheaded by Islamic militants in Iraq in late June after South Korea rejected their demand to withdraw its troops from the war-torn country.