Purpose: The purpose of this study aimed to describe the empathy and cultural competence and to find the relationship between the empathy and cultural competence in Korean nursing students. Methods: A total of 276 nursing students participated in this study. Data collection was conducted through the use of questionnaires which were constructed to include an Interpersonal Reaction Index, the Caffrey Cultural Competence in Healthcare scale, and Cultural Competence Assessment. Results: Empathy and cultural competency of participants in this study were shown to have moderate levels (Empathy: M=3.5, SD=0.41; Cultural competency: M=2.7, SD=0.42). And the nursing students who exhibited more frequent interaction with foreigners and willing to have multicultural education were found to have significantly higher empathy and cultural competence. There was a significant positive correlation between empathy and cultural competency(r=.189, p<.001). Conclusion: The findings suggest that nursing students need to enhance empathy and cultural competence.