Optical properties of sea water were studied in the western channel of the Korea Strait, based on the data obtained from fifteen oceanographic stations in July, 1980. Submarine daylight intensity was measured at intervals of 5m depth in the upper 70m layer by using the underwater irradiameter (Kahlsico $\#268_{WA}360$). The mean absorption coefficients of the sea water were shown as $0.098(0.063\sim0.183),\;0.129(0.090\sim0.270), 0.081(0.044\sim0.142),\;and 0.087(0.036\sim0,142)$ for clear, red, green, and blue color respectively. The transparency ranged from 11.5 to 24m(mean 18.3m). The mean water color in this area was $3.5(3\sim4)$ in Forel scales. The relation between absorption coefficient $(\kappa)$ and transparency (D) was $\kappa=1.72/D,\;\kappa=2.33/D,\;\kappa=1.41/D,\;and \kappa=1.44/D$ for clear, red, green, and blue color respectively. The rates of light penetration for clear, red, green, and blue color in four different depths were computed with reference to the surface light intensity respectively. The mean rates of light penetration in proportion to depths were as follows; clear : $57.90\% (5m),\;23.40\%\;(15m),\;6.23\%\;(30m),\;1.00\%\;(50m).$ $red\;:\;48.95\%\;(5m),\;14,81\%\;(15m),\;2.76\%\;(30m),\;0.28\%\;(50m).$ $green:\;63.20\%\;(5m),\;30.47\%\;(15m),\;10.03\%\;(30m),\;2.24\%\;(50m).$ $blue\;:\;62.70\%\;(5m),\;30.00\%\;(15m),\;9.75\%\;(30m),\;1.70\%\;(50m)$