CTD castings and current observations are taken in June, July and October, 1997 and May and July, 1998 to investigate the effect of the Keum River dyke on the structure of physical properties and the type of the Keum River estuary. Tide and tidal current relation shows that the ebbing is longer than the flooding by 1.5 hours with the early current reversing before high tide. In the rainy season (May to July), frequent large fresh water discharge during the ebbing from the dyke changes vertical salinity difference and time variation of salinity greatly near the head of the estuary, where salinity becomes lower than 2‰ in summer fresh water flooding. Halocline developed by the fresh water discharge makes two-layer structure, of which strength and depth increase in the low tide. The relationship between tide phase and surface salinity variation shows the phase lag of 2.5 hours near the head of the estuary but the standing wave relation down the estuary. This phase lag implies that a low salinity water diluted by the fresh water discharge for 2-3 hours in the ebb period moves with tidal excursion. In the dry season, vertical salinity difference reduces significantly. We calculate stratification and circulation parameters using the observed salinity structure, surface current and fresh water discharge. The Keum River estuary shows a partially mixed type, changing the stratification parameter from the rainy to the dry season. Mean flows of observed tidal current at lower and upper layer are landward and seaward, which are consistent with the circulation of a partially mixed estuary. Based upon the estuary type and circulation we suggest that the suspended materials will move toward the upstream due to low-layer mean flow and then the Keum River estuary will be a deposit environment.