Objective: Various controlled vocabulary such as thesaurus and classification make us to reuse and share effectively by defining different concept and linking terms each other. The UMLS(Unified Medical Language System) is one of the most universal medical terminology systems. It is needed various methods to share and reuse information of traditional Korean medicine. We will research on method that adopt SUI of the UMLS(that is de facto standard in medical terminology system) in traditional Korean medical terminology. Method: We described major problems and applying process when we tried to add traditional Korean medicine in the part of meridian into the UMLS metathesaurus. Comparing western medical terms and traditional Korean medical terms for applying UMLS metathesaurus, there is not only many consistency, but also differences. Result: We confirmed what is the differences and consistency between western medical terms and traditional Korean medical terms. And then reviewed methods that apply the CUI, LUI, SUI in traditional Korean medical terms. Traditional Korean medical terms are not discriminated by singular or plural string. In addition, traditional Korean medical terms have vary string by initial law: the law of initial sound of a syllable. Character is described with Korean, traditional Chinese, modern Chinese, etc. According to meaning, language, initial law, SUI has a distinct value respectively. Conclusion: There are many differences to apply the UMLS between western medical terms and traditional Korean medical terms. For the better implementation to traditional Korean medicine into the UMLS, further research is needed in standardization and classification of traditional Korean medical terms, medical information system, etc. We hope this study helps the implementation UMLS, EHR, knowledge based system in Oriental medicine in the future.