Lee highlights Korea's first-ever FTA, 'enduring' friendship with Chile

President Lee Jae Myung said Wednesday that Chile was the first country in the world to forge a free trade agreement (FTA) with Korea, stressing what he called the enduring friendship between the two countries.

The Korean president made the remarks during a meeting with members of the Korean community in Chile at a hotel in Santiago, held hours after he arrived in Santiago for a summit with Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast, set to be held Thursday.

Chile is the second stop on Lee's ongoing three-nation South America tour, which earlier took him to Brazil for a summit with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

It will later take him to Argentina.

"Chile was the first country in South America to recognize the Korean government, and it was also Korea's first FTA partner," Lee said.

The Korea-Chile FTA went into effect in 2004.

"On the map, Chile is one of the countries farthest from Korea, but a deep friendship has always endured" between the two countries, the president said.

Addressing the Korean community, the president pledged to make tangible improvements to consular services ...