In order to observe the contents of some essential amino acids in Korean foods, total and free tryptophan, and available lysine in fifty kinds of Korean foods were analyzed by the sfectrophotometry. The results obtained are summarized as follows : 1) The tryptophan contents per 100g of soybean, wet green laver and skim milk were over 250 mg, and the contents Per g nitrogen in ginger, dried persimmon and chestnut were over 150 mg. 2) The free tryptophan contents per 100 g of soybean, small red bean, dried persimmon, ginseng stem were over 100 mg, ana the contents per g nitrogen in dried persimmon was over 150 mg. 3) The available lysine contents Per 100g of soybean, wet green laver and skim milk, fish(auchovy), dried yeast, casein and silkworm pupa were over 1000 mg, and the contents per g nitrogen in potato, perilla(wild sesame), red pepper, sausage and skim milk were over 300mg. 4) The contents of tryptophan and available lysine in soybean, green laver and skim milk were higher than in other samples. 5) In general, the contents of tryptophan and available lysine were abundant in seaweeds.