A field survey for dinoflagellate cysts was carried out from May 2000 to November 2002 for the Southwest Sea of Korea. A total dinoflagellate cysts identified were 33 species, which belonged to 17 genera, 31 species, and 2 unidentified species. A cysts density were 16-1,501 cysts-gdry$^{-1}$. The dominant species of dinoflagellate cysts in the Southwestern Sea of Korea were Spiniferites bulloideus and Scrippsiella trochoidea, which are autotrophic species. To investigate the environmental characteristics of the Southwestern Sea of Korea using the dinoflagellate cysts, a principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted using the data collected from a total of 51 stations. From the score distribution map by the PCA, the Southwestern Sea of Korea was largely divided into three regions according to the first primary component and the second primary component. In other words, Group 1 was the western sea area of Mokpo and Jindo, Group 2 was the outer sea area of the South Sea, and Group 3 was the coastal areas of the South Sea around the Archipelago. It was found that this division of sea area was influenced by effects of the sea environment of the coastal areas of Korea. The coastal areas of Mokpo and Jindo that belong to Group 1 were affected by the cold Yellow Sea water. The outer sea area of the central parts of the South Sea that belong to Group 2, which is the boundary between the Southern coastal water of Korea and the Tsushima warm water, was subject to the formation of temperature fronts throughout the year, while Group 3 was affected by the coastal waters of Korea. It was also found that this division was in close relationship with the distribution of sediment facies in the bottom layer. From the above results, the environmental factors that influence the cyst distribution in he Southwestern Sea of Korea were found to include the eutrophication status of the sea area, the physical characteristics of the sea environment such as the flow of sea current and fronts, the sediment facies in the bottom layer, and the appearance volume of motile cells.