Seasonal variation of major inorganic ions in the greater Seoul area was estimated using a photochemical box model and a gas/aerosol equilibrium model with emphasis on semi -volatile nitrate. Pollutant emission was determined by season by comparing the predicted concentration with the measurement one obtained for a year from the late 1996. The results showed that particulate nitrate was the highest in summer but about 40% of total nitrate was present in the gas phase. This was due to volatilization at high temperature since ammonia was sufficient to neutralize all nitrate regardless of season. As relative humidity in summer was higher than the deliquescence point, particulate ion concentration with water was two times higher than that in other season. So called ‘NOx disbenefit’ indicating increase in particulate ion concentration with decrease in NOx emission was evident especially in winter.