In order to investigate the causes of epidemic out break of rice blast disease in 1978, investigations were undertaken in respect of climatic conditions, variety, cultural practice and plant pathology. During 1978, especially in August at heading time, it was higher temperature and humidity, higher frequency and amount of rainfall, lower amount of sunshine and solar radiation than less blast infested years. Nitrogen content in rice plant was higher than previous years. Acreage increase of semi-dwarf varieties brought about a result of proportional increase of new blast races which are able to infect the semi-dwarf varieties. It was concluded that those conditions mentioned above might have caused the result of severe neck blast disease in rice varieties in Korea, 1978.