To estimate the chemical mass balance of several kinds of trace metals in sea water, suspended matter and bottom sediments, sixty samples from the Kum and Mankyung estuaries were analyzed. In both estuaries, the distribution patterns of leachabl suspended trace metals and of bottom sediments were established to be similar. The relationship between the metal concentration and clay content of the sediments was found to be such that the metal concentration increases with an increase in clay content. A linear correlation ws determined between pairs of leachable metals (Fe-Zn, Fe-Mn and Zn-Mn) in the Kum estuary. However, in the Mankyung estuary linear relationship does not exist. Finally, it is suggested that the trace metals are reworking in the Kum estuary and those in the Mankyung estuary are sinking.