To assess the quality of nutrient intake by area of Korean adults, a dietary survey with the 3-day record method was obtained from 324 subjects aged 40 years and older but younger than 70 (52.4 $pm$ 8.7) living in a rural area (Ansung) and suburban area of a middle-sized city (Ansan). The quality of nutrient intake was assessed by analyzing Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (NAR), Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR) and Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ). The average daily mean energy intakes were 1,832 ㎉ for Ansung and 1,842 ㎉ for Ansan, respectively. Daily intakes of fat for Ansung and Ansan subjects were 40.9 and 40.3 g, and those for protein were 75.1 and 73.1 g, respectively. The overall calorie: protein: fat ratio (CPF) of energy intake was 63 : 17 : 20. Daily mean intakes of protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, carotene, sodium, thiamin, and niacin were significantly higher in Ansung residents than in Ansan subjects (p < .05). The average intakes of energy, calcium, vitamin A were lower than Recommend Dietary Allowance (RDA) in both areas. Note, over 30% of the study subjects had less than 75% of RDA of calcium, vitamin A and riboflavin. The MAR was higher in Ansung than Ansan residents (0.86 and 0.85, respectively; p < .05). INQs were over 1 for most nutrients except calcium (0.87), and that of calcium and phosphorus was each significantly higher in Ansung than Ansan subjects. Based on these results, nutrient intake quality of subjects aged 40 to 69 years living in the surveyed rural area is comparable to that of semi-industrialized suburban area in Korea. Dietary deficiency in all of calcium, vitamin A, and riboflavin, however, was a common problem for both rural and suburban residents.