The concentrations of organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) in fine aerosols were determined from the samples collected at the two background sites of Kosan in Cheju Island and Kangwha. Samplings were carried out during the spring and winter of 1996 and the fall and winter of 1997. PM25 particles were collected on the prefired quartz filters for 24 hours and analyzed by the selective thermal oxidation method. The concentrations of OC at the sites were higher than those commonly observed from clean areas around the world, but those of EC at both sites were lower than, or comparable to, other clean areas in the world. Both the OC and EC levels at Kangwha were higher than those at Kosan. According to backward trajectory analysis, most air pollutants collected at the two sites were from China. It was found that the OC and EC concentrations in air masses from southern China were higher than those from northern China.