The characteristics of Lake Cheonhoji water and sediment were investigated in oder to utilize these as fundamental materials for the management of lake water quality. The hydrographic properties of Lake Cheonhoji which are relatively low chance of nutrients loading from the watershed and a long retention time of lake water, lead to the probability of high lake productivity. It was also observed that lake water showed stratification during summer and complete mixing during fall, even though water depth was relatively shallow. The trophic state was eutrophic to hypertrophic from summer to late fall. The overall properties of the sediment were oligohumic, high ignition loss and high composition of NAIP and Resid.-P, which might serve as potential pollution sources of lake water quality. In laboratory scale experiments, it was observed that leaching potential of nutrients in the sediment was greatly dependant upon water temperature and dissolved oxygen. Finally, water pollution in Lake Cheonhoji was considered to be largely due to the adverse cycle of uncontrollable eutrophication, which resulted in the subsequent occurrence of dead algae and animal plankton, organic sedimentation, reduction of dissolved oxygen and nutrients leaching, which again reinforced the cycle of eutrophication in the lake.