The late sea-breeze and its impacts on ozone distributions were investigated during April to September from 1998 to 2002, in the Busan metropolitan area (including surrounding areas) using the surface ozone concentrations (obtained at 9 monitoring sites), local meteorological variables (obtained near the shore), together with synoptic data. The urban scale ozone concentration was also simulated using the MM5/UAM-V to better understand the role of late sea-breeze in Busan. The results from observation study showed that most of the late sea-breeze occurred when weak offshore synoptic flow (northwesterly) suppressed development of sea - breeze, and the ozone concentration level and frequencies exceeding ozone standard increased with the onset time of sea breeze. We also found that the late sea-breeze clearly induces relatively weak wind speed and high temperature during the daytime As a result it enhances the photochemical ozone accumulation and delays the occurrence time of the averaged maximum ozone concentrations. The results of simulation for high ozone episode (24 August, 2001) by MM5/UAM -V revealed that the late sea-breeze interacted with weak offshore synoptic wind can contribute significantly to high ozone concentration in the coastal urban area. The simulated horizontal and vertical distribution of ozone concentration indicated that ozone can be accumulated over the sea under stagnant condition and return to the land in the late afternoon with the sea breeze, suggesting both the relationship between late sea-breeze and recirculation and the importance of late sea -breeze effects influencing severe ozone pollution in Busan.