Korea has extraordinary biodiversity of freshwater fishes comparing to its small national area. About 212 freshwater fish species have been reported. Also, exotic fishes, for instance, Israeli carp (Cyprinus carpio ), White crucian carp (Carassius cuvieri ), Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus ), Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss ), Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch ), Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus ), Large mouth bass (Micropterus salmoides ), Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus ), Grass carp (Ctenopharygodon idellus ), Big head carp (Aristichthys nobilis ) and Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix ) are included.

    The fish fauna in Korea is very similar to that in China but proportion of endemic fish is high due to geographical isolation. Total of 25% is endemic species (53 out of 212 species). Among that, about 60% (31 species) is Cypridae and 20% (11 species) is Cobitinidae. Most of indigenous fishes habitat the upper and middle stream and also their body size is small.

    Reserved and commemorative animals in wild life are selected as a natural monument by The Act of Cultural Assets in Korea. Of freshwater fishes, 4 species were assigned as Natural Monument Fish. The list is as follow; Marbled eel (Anguilla marmorata ), Spotted barbel (Hamibarbus mylodon ), Manchurian trout (Brachymystax lenok ), Golden mandarin fish (Siniperca scherzeri ).

    Endangered fishes are also appointed by The Law of Natural Environmental Conservation. There are 12 species are established as below; Black shinner (Pseudopungtungia nigra ), Hinsumaja (Gobiobotia naktongensis ), Miho spine loach (Iksookimia choii ), Korean stumpy bullhead (Pseudobagrus brevicorpus ), Bull-head torrent catfish (Liobagrus obesus ), Sand lamprey (Lampetra reissneri ), Korean bittering (Acheilognathus signifer ), Morejusa (Microphysogobio koreensis ) Chinese ligard gudeon (Saurogobio babryi ), Puan spine loach (Iksookimia pumila ), Jomsusuchi (Niwaella brevifasciata ), Aucha perch (Coreoperca kawamebari ). These assigned species were strictly confined collecting, culturing, buying and selling by the government laws