This study investigates the relationship between the Korean temperature and the atmospheric circulation such as Arctic Oscillation, Siberian High and Aleutian Low during the winter (December-January) for the period of 1970-2011. It is found that all indices to represent aforementioned circulations are significantly correlated with Korean winter temperature for the period of 1970 - 2011. There are marked contrasts in such relationship, however, before and after the mid-1980s when a significant regime shift of Korean winter temperature occurred. While Korean winter temperature has a close relationship with Arctic Oscillation after the mid-1980s, its relationship with Siberian High and Aleutian Low is weakened. The composite analysis between a positive and negative phase of Arctic Oscillation before and after the mid-1980s is conducted to examine a recent strengthening of Arctic Oscillation-Korean winter temperature relationship. It is found that the structural changes of low-level wind and the geopotential height at 500 hPa between the two phases of Arctic Oscillation are more effective to influence Korean winter temperature after the mid-1980s. This may induce a close relationship between the Korean winter temperature variability and Arctic Oscillation after the mid-1980s compared to before the mid-1980s.