This review provides a summary of data assimilation applied to the seas around Korea. Currently the worldwide efforts are devoted to applying advanced assimilation to realistic cases, thanks to improvements in mathematical foundations of assimilation methods and the computing capabilities, and also to the availability of extensive observational data such as from satellites. Over the seas around Korea, however, the latest developments in the advanced assimilation methods have yet to be applied. Thus it would be timely to review the progress in data assimilation over the seas. Firstly, the definition and necessity of data assimilation are described, continued by a brief summary of major assimilation methods. Then a review of past research on the ocean data assimilation in the regional seas around Korea is given and future trends are considered. Special consideration is given to the assimilation of remotely-sensed data.