It was the third time the National Assembly deferred voting on the controversial accord and marked another embarrassment for President Roh Moo-hyun, whose government has warned the delays could hurt the country's credibility and exports.
"We regret that the vote has been postponed again," presidential spokesman Yoon Tai-young said Monday. "We are confident the National Assembly will convene again soon to make its decision."
As lawmakers wrangled over the accord, about 10,000 South Korean farmers rallied near the National Assembly building. Hundreds clashed with riot police, throwing stones, hitting officers with wooden sticks and setting fire to automobiles.
Scuffles erupted when groups of farmers tried to march toward the parliament, guarded by about 9,000 riot police who repelled the protesters with water cannons.
Television footage showed a man bleeding on his head, and local media reported that nearly 100 people were injured in the fighting.
National Assembly Speaker Park Kwan-yong said the National Assembly will convene again next Monday, but it was unclear whether the accord would go to vote then. Lawmakers are to iron out farmer aid packages and subsidy plans in the interim.
The delay underlines the political pressures facing Roh's government ahead of nationwide parliamentary elections April 15.
South Korean farmers, who fear the accord with Chile could flood the market with cheaper goods, have threatened to campaign against lawmakers who support the trade agreement in the upcoming April elections.
Earlier Monday, South Korea's Deputy Prime Minister Kim Jin-pyo urged the National Assembly to approve the accord as part of South Korea's push to expand trade. South Korea is also negotiating free trade agreements with Singapore and Japan.
The National Assembly had twice before delayed voting on the free trade accord amid protests by legislators from rural provinces — although all major political parties indicated support for the free trade deal.
Chile's Senate ratified the accord last month, but asked President Ricardo Lagos to wait for South Korea's National Assembly to approve it before signing it into law.
Under the pact, Chile would lift tariffs on South Korean motor vehicles, cellular phones, computers, TV sets and air conditioners.
In return, South Korea would remove tariffs on Chilean copper products, animal feed, wheat, wool and tomatoes, as well as more than 250 fisheries products.
