The damaged area by and the distribution of Japanese gall forming thrips, Ponticulothrips diospyrosi Haga et Okajima (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) in Korea were surveyed based on the answers of persimmon growers to questionnaire. Seasonal occurrence of each developmental stage was estimated by monitoring the individuals in damaged leaves, and effect of trap site and side of sticky board were studied by yellow sticky traps at three sweet persimmon orchards in Gimhae and Jinju (orchards A and B), Gyeongnam province, Korea in 2005. P. diospyrosi gave damage to astringent persimmon as well as sweet one. The damaged area of persimmon orchard has sharply increased since 2000, reaching 446 ha nationwide; Gyeongnam province was most severely damaged, followed by Gyeongbuk and Jeonnam provinces. Most of the farmers answered that they sprayed insecticides and removed the damaged leaves to control P. diospyrosi. The overwintered adults were observed in the damaged-rolled leaves from mid May and the 1st generation adults from early-mid June. No thrips were observed in the damaged leaves after mid July. Yellow sticky trap data showed that peak adults catch of the overwintered generation was mid May, and that of the 1st generation was mid-late June in Gimhae and late June in Jinju. Sticky traps set at orchard-pine forest border caught significantly more number of the 1st generation adults than those at the orchard center, even though timing of peak catches was not different between the two sites. There was a tendency of more catches on the side of sticky trap facing pine forest than the other side facing orchard center, even though the catches on both sides showed no statistical difference.