We examined the horizontal distribution of salinity and the concentrations of DIN and DIP after heavy rainfall events in coastal areas of South Korea from Yeoja Bay to Narodo and from Gwangyang Bay to Geomodo to determine whether fresh water actually flows into areas of Cochlodinium polykrikoides red tides and to observe its effect on the growth of this organism after heavy rainfall. Following heavy rainfall (155 mm) in the Yeosu and Suncheon regions, the average salinity was 21 and 29 psu at Yeoja Bay and in the coastal waters of Narodo, respectively. After 126 mm of rainfall, the values were 19 and 25 psu in the coastal waters of Yeosu and Geomodo, respectively. This may have been caused by an influx of fresh water, after the rainfall event, into the open sea coastal areas around Narodo and Geomodo from the Dong and Seomjin Rivers, which are about 3540 km away. After the rainfall, the concentrations of NH4-N, NO2-N, and PO4-P were slightly increased; however, the concentration of NO3-N was greatly increased and diffused throughout the coastal areas of Narodo and Geomodo, which frequently experience C. polykrikoides blooms. The influence of NH4-N, NO2-N, and PO4-P on the occurrence of C. polykrikoidesred tides in coastal areas around Narodo and Geomodo after heavy rainfall does not appear to be great. Instead, the occurrence C. polykrikoides red tides in the coastal areas of Narodo and Geomodo seems to be facilitated by NO3-N.