Mass loss and changes of mineral nutrients during the decomposition of mushrooms, Russula alboareolata and Lactarius violascens, were investigated for 7d from June 29 to July 5 in 1999 in an oak stand in Kongju, Korea. At 7d after installation of litterbags, the remaining mass of R. alboareolata and L. violaxcens was 9.4% and 25.9%, respectively. The mass loss rate of R. alboareolata was significantly higher than that of L. violascens. Concentration of N, P, K, Ca and Mg of R. alboareolata and L. violascens were 37.7 mg/g, 0.97mg/g, 38.25 mg/g, 0.04 mg/g, and 0.75 mg/g for R. alboareolata and 45.7 mg/g, 1.31mg/g, 24.0 mg/g, 0.06 mg/g, and 0.80 mg/g for L. violascens, respectively. Concentrations of nutrients in R. alboareolata and L. violascens were much higher than those in the surrounding leaf litter. N, P, Ca and Mg concentrations in the decomposing mushroom tissue were higher during the experimental period in both species than initial concentrations. Potassium increased during the first 3 d and then decreased in both species. Potassium contents in the mushroom were much greater than those of Ca and Mg. Except for Ca, there was no immobilization period in all the nutrients during decomposition. At 7 d after installation of litterbags, the remaining N, P, K, Ca and Mg of R. alboareolata and L. violascens were 9.8%, 8.9%, 2.7%, 47.7%, and 14.8% of the initial contents for R. alboareolata and 28.2%,30.5%, 19.6%, 199.9%, and 02.1% for L. violascens, respectively. Nutrients could be relocated spatially during the formation and decomposition of the Basidiomycetes fruiting body.