Due to the promotion based on the recent research evidences that support benefits of breastfeeding, the proportion of breastfeeding mothers have steadily been increasing in the industrialized countries(60-90%). The purpose of the present review was to evaluate the recent findings on the nutritional values of breast milk and immunological benefits of breastfeeding in order to promote the breastfeeding practice in Korea. Research findings supported the concept that the breast milk has a lasting effect on the development of digestive and immune systems. Most of the works assessed whether breastfeeding enhanced protection against infection as well as decreased risk for certain allergic disorders.