Allele frequencies in twenty-two populations from nine Korean muricid species of five genera (Rapaninae and Ocenebrinae) wire analyzed genetically using 13 loci from 11 allozyme systems. The clustering patterns of these species were basically consistent with traditional groupings to two subfamilial categories based on shell and radula morphologies. Within six ocenebrine species it was apparent that Ceratostoma inornata and Pteropurpura adunca were most closely related to each other than to any other species belonging to the genus Ceratostoma. These results, along with other anatomical features 〔morphologies of albumin gland (female), egg capsule〕, suggest that the generic position of C. inornata, previously classified to be congeneric with other western Pacific Ceratostoma species, should be reconsidered. Our results show the close relationship of Nucella freycineti with other ocenebrine species, rather than with rapanines, which supports a previous suggestion that the genus Nucella should be placed with the subfamily Ocenebrinae rather than the subfamily Rapaninae.