An outbreak of Pontiac fever was reported in Seoul in 1984, but legionnaires disease was not known in Korea yet. Our knowledge on the presence or abscence of Legionella in cooling tower. which is the main source of the infection. is very limited. In this study an attempt was made to determine the presence of Legionella in cooling towers during June-September. and in the sputum specimens for routine bacteria culture, which was taken during July-August 1985. Among the 83 water samples 6 yielded L. pneumophila serogroup 1, while none of the 189 sputum samples yielded growth of Legionella. It is concluded that legionellosis can occur in Korea and if it happens it is most likely due to L. pneumophila serogroup 1.