Tentative identification of Leuconostoc lactis IH23 isolated from kimchi (a fermented vegetable product) has been described previously with 16S rDNA sequencing (Choi, 1., M. Sc. Thesis Inha Univ.1999). This strain produced the slime identified as dextran based on IR, $^$13/C- and $^1$H-NMR spectroscopic results. Further study proved that the isolate IH23 belongs to a homogeneous genetic group with L. lactis DSM 20202$^$T/ and L. argentinum DSM 8581$^$T/. The results showed DNA-DNA homology of 99-100%, 16S rDNA gene sequence similarity (97.7% ), and a phylogenetic relationship although L. argentinum DSM 8581$^$T/ had lower homology (80-91%). These data indicate that L. argentinum DSM 8581$^$T/ and the isolate IH23 belong to an identical species with L. lactis DSM 20202$^$T/at the genetic level, although in carbohydrate fermentation, the isolate IH23 was mast closely related to L. argentinum DSM 8581$^$T/ and quite different from L. lactis DSM 20202$^$T/. Here we first report the isolation of consistent phenotypic variation in Leuconostoc lactis. We also emphasize that the nomenclature of subspecies needs to be differentiated into the three strains mentioned above in Leuconostoc lactis.