The Ministry of Commerce said it will support more Chinese pharmaceutical, finance, cultural and consumer goods companies to invest in South Korea to extend their business reach to a market with more access to companies from China.

Zhang Yuzhong, deputy director of the ministry's investment promotion agency, said that in comparison with the China-Singapore or China-New Zealand free trade agreements, the China-South Korea FTA has many "advanced articles" in highlighting services and investment.

"As Chinese companies carry out a 'going global' strategy, they can certainly benefit from South Korea's industrial advantages and well-developed service sector to seek new market growth points, as well as the country's strong business ties with the United States, Canada and Brazil," said Zhang.

Last year, Shenzhen-headquartered Anbang Insurance Group Co, China's largest property insurer by assets, invested $1 billion to acquire a 63 percent stake in South Korea's Tongyang Life Insurance Co.

"Even though the shift is still in its early stages, it could have meaningful business implications, since it comes at a critical time when both countries are keen to improve their competitiveness to compete with other economies such as Japan," said Huo Jianguo, former president of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the ministry.