CTD, light transmission and tidal current data obtained off the Keum estuary in August, 1991 and 1992 were analyzed to look into the plume movement and the vertical structure of the plume changing with tidal currents. When the river plume was developed by a localized torrential downpour, the initial plume showed a surface lens of low salinity in the section south of the Yeon-Do. The axis of surface lens moved with tidal currents which flows mainly northeastward and southwestward tn the study area and the excursion of the lens axis reached 7 km. The plume during the ebb period showed a symmetric lens structure of low salinity which extends vertically to 3 m below the surface. During the flood period the plume deepened to 6 m below the surface in its northen side forming a sharp salinity front, which results in an asymmetric lens. We suggest that the salinity front with deepened plume moved to the north repeatedly, resulting in temperature increase and salinity decrease in the northern region off the estuary. When the river discharged continuously the large volume over 20 days, the plume forming surface lens extended to the Sybidongpa-Do and deflected to the north.