The seed-derived ferrierite zeolite (FER) synthesized at different contents of FER seed component without using any organic structure-directing agent (OSDA) showed a higher catalytic activity and stability for a gas-phase carbonylation of dimethyl ether (DME) to methyl acetate (MA) at an optimal amount of the previously synthesized FER-seed with 15wt%. The optimal amount of FER-seed material played an important role to optimize the numbers of active Bronsted acid sites in 8-membered ring (8-MR) channels with less formation of coke precursors by decreasing defect sites through their recrystallization during the preparation step. The defected Lewis acidic extra-framework aluminum (EFAL) sites on the seed-derived FER surfaces were responsible for preferential coke depositions and for a retarded CO insertion by decreasing the rate of the gas-phase DME carbonylation reaction.