Long-term trends and distribution patterns of water quality were investigated in the Asan coastal areas of Yellow Sea, Korea from 1975 to 2005. Water samples were collected at 3 stations and physicochemical parameters were analyzed including water temperature, salinity, suspended solids (SS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved oxygen (DO) and nutrients. Spatial distribution patterns were not clear among stations but the seasonal variations were distinct except COD, SS and nitrate. The trend analysis by principal component analysis (PCA) during twenty years revealed the significant variations in water quality in the study area. Annual water qualities were clearly discriminated into 4 clusters by PCA; year cluster 1988-1991, 1994-1997, and 1992-1993/1998- 2005. By this multi-variate analysis we can summarize the annual trends as the followings; salinity, suspended solids and dissolved oxygen tended to increase from late 1980's, increased pH and COD from 1992, and decreased salinity and increased nitrogen and COD from 1990 due to the runoff frow agricultural lands causing eutrophication.