This study is to identify the physiological traits of submergence-tolerant varieties of rice plants (Oryza sativa L.) in Yeongnam area, southeastern part of Korea, where the reduction of rice yield due to submergence is remarkably severe. In the present study, two tolerant varieties of rice plants were selected from over 30 rice varieties grown in under a 10-day period. The tolerant varieties selected from a submerged paddy field. As a control, one intolerant variety of rice plant was chosen. Of the tolerant variety Samgangbyeo, rather than Haepyungbyeo, had a lower dissolved oxygen consumption and maintained a higher dry weight than the intolerant variety. The leaf photosynthetic rates (LPS) of the two tolerant varieties were significantly higher than that of the intolerant-variety after four days of submergence treatment. These results indicate that lower dissolved oxygen consumption in a limited pool is prevented by ethylene formation in the tolerant varieties, which may be a mechanism of submergence tolerance.