This study examined the decomposition of blades and culms of aquatic emergent plant species, Zizania latifolia, Phragmites communis and Typha angustata, and changes in nutrient contents during decomposition. Z. latifolia, P. communis and T. angustata were the most frequently occurring species in Lake Paldang of Han River, Korea. Experiments were carried out from July 27 to December 14, 2005 in Lake Paldang using the litter bag method. The remaining masses of blade litter of each species at the end of experimental period were 21.2% of initial dry weight in Z. latifolia, 32.5% in P. communis, and 44.7% in T. angustata. In addition, the remaining mass of culm was 22.6% of initial dry mass in Z. latifolia, 56.4% in P. communis, and 38.1% in T. angustata. During the litter decomposition period, P, K, Na, and Mg concentration decreased rapidly within 10 days, but Ca and Mg concentration declined slowly. K contents remained below 10% of initial values in all litter samples retrieved during decomposition, whereas Ca and Mg concentration remained above 40% and 50% during decomposition in all three species. Na, P and Mn contents in litter varied among species and plant parts. P concentration in culms of P. communis remained at about 60% of initial concentration throughout the study, but the remaining P content in culms of Z. latifolia was only 10% of the original value at the end of the study period. The Mn concentration in blades of P. communis increased about 15-fold relative to the initial content by the end of experiment.