In order to secure the proper use of herbicides that are frequently used in Korea, the behavior of herbicides in various type of soil were studied. This study includes the variation of phytotoxicity, leaching and movement, and residual activity period of herbicides depending upon the type of soil etc. Experiments were also conducted to establish a guideline for the selection of herbicides according to the type of soil and the proper use of each herbicide in various type of soil in Korea. Experimental results showed that the behavior of herbicides could be characterized based on the series or kind of herbicides and devided into two major groups. One group (nitrofen. CNP, benthiocarb and butachlor) of herbicides showed relatively little crop injury and was very dependable. The action of this group was not remarkably influenced by soil components, rainfall and the quantity of herbicide used with the type of soil that had small adsorption capacity such as most of soil in Korea. The other group(simazine, 2, 4-D. linuron, alachlor and simetryne) showed a wide variation in it's action and retained potentially injurious effect. This group was very susceptable to using condition as well as the type of soil itself. Based on the results of various experiments the disappearance of the residual activity period of major herbicides used in upland and paddy field and the related factors were explained. It is believed that the results of this study can be used as a base for the establishment of a guideline for the proper use of each herbicide and can suggest a direction of developing new herbicides.