This study analyzed rainfall-runoff characteristics by deriving multiple impulse responses. The concept of competing impulse responses was used for deriving multiple impulse responses. Based on this concept, each response function derived competes to be selected for simulating the runoff measured. This concept of competing linear impulse responses was applied to four basins, Jeongseon, Yeongwol, Youngchoon and Chungju Dam. One to three impulse responses have been derived and compared each other considering basin characteristics. First, in case of deriving one linear impulse response, the peak flow of the impulse response was found to be increased according to their study basins area. In case of deriving two linear impulse response, the peak flow of the first impulse response and the duration of the second impulse response were increased according to their basin size. The case of deriving three impulse response showed similar characteristics of deriving two impulse responses. However, the peak flow of third impulse response was very small and lasted quite long time. Summarizing these results considering the basin characteristics, the first impulse response seems to be related with the surface runoff, the second impulse with the surface runoff and interflow, and the third impulse response with the interflow and base flow.