To classify the surface sedimentary facies using IKONOS image collected over Hwangdo tidal flat in Cheonsu Bay, the optical reflectance was compared for characterizing various sedimentary environments such as grain size, tidal channel pattern and area ratio of surface remnant water. The intertidal DEM (Digital Elevation Model) was generated by echo-sounder for analyzing the relationship between IKONOS image and sedimentary environments including topography. The boundary of the optical reflectance between mud-mixed facies and sand facies was distinct, and discrimination of the associated sandbar feature was also possible. The mud-mixed facies coupled with intricate tidal channels is confined to the relatively hi호 topography of Hwangdo tidal flat. The boundary between mud and mixed flat was indistinct in IKONOS optical reflectance but it would have a difference in the area ratio of surface remnant water. The dark area in the image represented the well developed sand facies having a lot of surface remnant water due to the relatively low surface topography. The overall accuracy of characterizing the surface sediment facies by maximum likelihood classification method was 86.2 %. These results demonstrate that high spatial resolution satellite imagery such as IKONOS coupled with knowledge of grain size, surface remnant water and tidal channel network can be effectively used to characterize the surface sedimentary facies (mud, mixed and sand) network of the tidal flat environments.