This study intends to examine the characteristics of the construction method of the urban water system in the historical cities of Korea, focusing on Gyeongju, Gyeongju, Goryeo, Hanyang, and Suwon Hwaseong, which were created as new towns in the late Joseon Dynasty. It examines the meaning of waterways in connection with the urban skeletal structure, focusing on the location of cities, roads, and arrangement of urban facilities, and analyzes the compositional form of the water system. We tried to derive the relationship with the structure. In particular, it can be seen that water and natural water systems act as key factors in determining the location of a city, and have a close relationship with the urban structure, urban development process, and urban structure. In addition to the symbolic meaning of water in harmony with the geographical concept, realistic demands in terms of water level and water retention are an important background. In order to respond to various demands related to water space, various planning and technical elements for managing water space were introduced in the process of city formation and development. The planning elements of the urban water system in the process of urban formation and development are summarized as follows through the analysis of the research site. First, in the process of building the urban water system in Gyeongju, Goryeo, Goryeo, Hanyang, and Hwaseong, Suwon, which were selected as the research destinations, the water system in consideration of drainage and disaster is common, but the water system construction method and usability are common. shows the difference. Second, water and natural water systems act as symbolic elements to secure the legitimacy of the city location, and as a key factor in determining the location of the city in harmony with the geographical concept and determining the left direction of the city. Third, the natural water system prior to the formation of a city works as a basis for determining the compositional form of the urban water system constructed in the process of urban formation and development in harmony with the topographical conditions. Fourth, the urban water system built on the basis of natural water systems is constructed by linking natural waterways and planned artificial waterways. Fifth, the urban water system is being built in a planned manner in consideration of the utility in connection with the urban structure, such as securing of urban land, arrangement of urban facilities and areas, composition of functional areas, and land division, in addition to the perspective of drainage system and flood control in consideration of disasters.