The purpose of this study consists in introducing and examining the previous river classification systems applicable to the river improvement technique including geomorphological considerations, and developing a new system using the geomorphological criteria which represent the morphology of rivers. A newly developed system uses the channel reach as a classifying unit which is delineated by upstream and downstream tributaries. It adopts three basic geomorphological criteria for classification: 1) valley-floor width index(VI) reflecting the confinement of the channel in the valley, 2) sinuosity(P) which expresses the channel planform, and 3) bed material($d_{50}$). The system is composed of 24 stream types. Concerning every stream type, valley forms, principal bed forms and fluvial processes with disturbance elements are briefly presented. Finally, the applicability of this system to the Chungmi Stream and the Imjin River data in comparison with that of Rosgen system is examined.