This study was conducted to identify the characteristics of Korean diet in the view of food and food group intakes. The study subjects consisted of preschool children(PC), elementary school children(EC), high school students(HS), college students(CS), and adults over 30 years old living Seoul and the surrounding areas. The subjects over 30 years old were classified to 30-49 years, 50-69 years, and over 70 years. A dietary survey was conducted using 24-hour recall method and data were collected from 2392 subjects. Rice was a major contributor to many nutrients intake because of the amount of consumption. Vegetable oil made great contribution to fat intakes and eggs, squid, and anchovy supplied much cholesterol compared to other foods in all the age groups. Milk was major contributor of fat and cholesterol as well as calcium in younger age group, and seasoning gave much contribution to iron intakes. Mean dietary variety score(DVS) was 32 for EC group and 17 for subjects over 70 years, and tended to decrease along the increasing age. EC group consumed most variable number of foods of all groups but they consumed many junk foods, therefore the MAR value was low despite their high DVS value. Mean dietary diversity score(DDS) of each age group from PC group to subjects over 70 years was 4.34, 4.28, 3.79, 3.89, 3.76, 3.56, and 3.25, respectively. Food group, which was consumed below the minimum amount, was mainly fruits in all the age groups, and many subjects in HS group and over 30 years consumed dairy products below the minimum amount. From these results, age specific nutritional problems were found. PC group and subjects over 50 years seemed to need more diverse food intake than now, EC group did nutrient dense food, and HS group and subjects over 30 years did dairy products. Also, subjects took various nutrients from rice and seasoning contributed to some nutrients intakes. (Korean J Nutrition 34(5) : 568∼579, 2001)