SEOUL - South Korea is examining the impact of a free trade deal (FTA) with China, the trade minister said Thursday.

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"We are cautiously looking into the impact of FTA with China on our economy. Heads of related ministries regularly meet to discuss the benefits of FTA with China," South Korean Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon said at a meeting with business leaders.

Kim said there are views that South Korea should aggressively seek FTA with China, and others advise the government should take a cautious approach on such a trade deal.

China is the largest buyer of South Korea-made products, and South Korea is China's third-biggest trading partner following the United States and Japan.