The species composition and distributions of benthic marine plants on the East Coast of Korea were studied. We examined all species found in the intertidal and subtidal zones at four sites seasonally from August 2006 to May 2009. Of the 148 species identified, 92 were rhodophytes, 39 were phaeophytes, 16 were chlorophytes, and 1 was a seagrass. The most species (125) were found at Jukbyeon, while the fewest (99) were found at Chuksan. Overall, the numbers of species were highest during the spring and lowest in autumn. Seventy-five species (50 rhodophytes, 15 phaeophytes, 9 chlorophytes, and 1 seagrass) were found at all four sites. The dominant species providing cover were melobesioidean algae, Sargassum spp., Phyllospadix japonica, and Corallina pilulifera. The vertical distribution of benthic marine plants was characterized by C. pilulifera, Sargassum spp., Hizikia fusiformis, Grateloupia elliptica, Symphyocladia latiuscula, Grateloupia lanceolata, Ulva pertusa, and Chondria crassicaulis in the intertidal zone; Sargassum spp., P. japonica, Prionitis cornea, C. pilulifera, and Acrosorium polyneurum at 1 m depth; Sargassum spp., P. japonica, and melobesioidean algae at 5 m depth; and melobesioidean algae at 10 m depth. There was variation among the sites, presumably due to differences in the local conditions.