determine the distribution of heavy metals in estuarine sediments, forty surface sediment samples were collected from the Youngsan estuary, and analysed for their contents of Fe, Mn, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn and Pb. Contents of most analysed metals were comparable to those in the near shore environment around Korean peninsula, and little anthropogenic effect was identified. However, there was a contrasting behavior among the metals with respect to their relationship with the grain-size of sediments. Contents of Fe, Co, Cr and Ni demonstrated a fairly linear relationship with the grain-size of sediments whereas those of Mn, Cu, Zn and Pb did not. This different behavior In these metals was Interpreted as being the result of the additional inputs. The R-mode factor analysis also confirmed the different behavior of Cu, Zn, Pb and Mn from that of Fe, Co, Cr and Ni.