$^{14}$C uptake experiments were carried out in and around the cold water mass in the southern part of the Korean East Sea in August and October 1995 to assess spatial and seasonal variability of primary productivity and its relation to physical and chemical factors. The cold and high saline water mass in the bottom layer extended upward to the surface layer and developed along the eastern coast of Korea in August. Chlorophyll-a concentration was maintained high in the cold water mass through August to October and its maximum concentration was 6.3 ${mu}$g 1$^{-1}$ at Stn. 209-4 in August. Primary productivity and daily primary productivity ranged from 0.29 to 8.02 mgC m$^{-3}$ hr$^{-1}$ and from 58.3 to 63.1 mgC m$^{-2}$ d$^{-1}$, respectively, throughout the study period. Primary productivity of the cold water mass was higher than that of offshore waters in both summer and autumn seasons. P$_{max}$ and I$_{max}$ of the cold water mass in August were higher than those in October, except Stn. 208-5. These results suggest that high primary productivity in the cold water mass may be established by the upwelled nutrients and light adaptaion to convected phytoplankton due to upwelling of the bottom waters.