Kalopanaxpictus (Araliaceae) is a long-lived woody species primarily distributed throuBhout East Asia. This species isregarded as medically and ecologlcally important in Korea. We used starch gel electrophoresis to invesUgate its ailoz. yme variation and genetic structure in samples from Korean populations (both natural and cultivated). Our analysis of 10 enzymes revealed 18 loci, of which 10 were polymorphic (55.6%). Genetic diversity at the species and population levels were 0.200 and 0.149, respectively, with the mean for cultivated populations (0.124) being lower than for natural (wild) populations (0.181). Asexual and sexual reproduction modes, perennial habitat, and Iongevib/all were possible factors contributing to such high diversity. An indirect estimate of the number of migrants per generation (Nm : 1.08) indicated that gene flow was not extensive arnon 8 these Korean populations. Therefore, we suBgest that geographical distance as well as reproductive isolation between wild and cultivated plants may play roles in shaping the population structure of this species.