Present contamination levels of soils along the major roadsides of Seoul, Korea were investigated, and base-line data were accumulated for future use. Topsoil $(1{sim}5$ cm) and subsoil $(20{sim}50$ cm) from five districts (Gangdong-, Gwangjin-, Nowon-, Seodaemun- and Seongdong-gu) were sampled. The collected samples were airdried, passed through 2-mm sieves, and analyzed to determine the physicochemical properties including pH, EC, CEC, exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, K, and Na), and heavy metal contents (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn). Soil textures of topsoils and subsoils were mainly loamy sand and sandy loam, respectively. The range of pH was $4.5{sim}10$.0 with an average of 7.5 for both topsoil and subsoil, which is much higher than that of the forest soils in Seoul. The ranges of 0.1 N HCI extractable Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn contents for both topsoils and subsoils were $0.0l{sim}l.19$, N.D. (not $detected){sim}228$.99, $N.D.{sim}352$.54, and $2.97{sim}332$.96 mg $kg^{-1}$, respectively. Most of the average heavy metal contents were lower than the concern level of the Soil Environment Conservation Act of Korea, but were much higher than those of the , forest soils in Seoul. Some sites were higher in heavy metal contents than the concern levels; in particular, the average Cu content in Seongdong-gu was much higher than the concern level, 50 mg $kg^{-1}$. Careful management of the soil to prevent the aggravation of the present contamination level and the dissemination of contamination is highly recommended.