To know characteristics of water quality in Saemankeum area, we were investigated the water quality of surface layer from July of 1999 to June of 2000. The concentrations of COD and chlorophyll a were in the range of $0.64~6.40$ (mean 1.96)mg/L, $1.95~51.55$ (mean 11,07)$mg/m^3$, respectively. The annual mean concentrations of DIN, DIP were found to be 21.182 $mu$g-at/L and 0,655 $mu$g-at/L respectively, which were exceeding second grade of seawater quality standard. The nitrogen ratio to the phosphorus was lower than 1. Therefore, nitrogen was playing an important role in phytoplankton growth as limiting factor in study area. Mean values of eutrophication index were exceeding 1, which was the eutrophication criteria. Especially Mankyung and Dongjin estuary were shown over 10 as eutrophication index. Therefore, Saemankeum area could be evaluated to possibility area for eutrophication. Released rate for ammonia nitrogen and phosphate phosphorus from sediments were 62.92 ${mu}g-at/m^3/hr$ and 6.71 ${mu}g-at/m^3/hr$, respectively.