Ground seawater quality was investigated, and the algal growth potential (AGP) tests were performed along the Tongyeong coast to examine the inflow of materials, which is needed for the red tide species Cochlodinium polykrikoides to grow. The study was conducted to determine the mechanism for C. polykrikoidesred tides. Water temperature, salinity, pH, and dissolved oxygen (DO) ranged from 16.05 to $20.74^{circ}C$, 18.20 to 32.11 psu, 6.00 to 7.61, and 3.41 to 7.91 mg/L (41.4-96.1%), respectively. No seasonal variation was observed in water temperature. The salinity, pH, and DO saturations at most stations were lower than those of coastal seawater at Tongyeong. The ${NH_4}^+$-N, ${NO_{2+3}}^-$-N, ${PO_4}^{3-}$-P concentrations ranged from 0.43 to 16.00 ${mu}M$, 1.50 to 132.38 ${mu}M$, and 1.30 to 6.29 ${mu}M$, respectively; the values at some stations were much higher than observed in Tongyeong coast seawater. Using seawater from station B, C. polykrikoides grew consistently, with a high growth rate, similar to the red tide in nature. This seawater appeared to contain materials needed by C. polykrikoides to grow. Therefore, C. polykrikoides red tides seem to occur wherever the ground sea water contains materials that are needed for its growth.