Heavy metals, such as Al, As, Cd, Cr Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Si, Sn, V and Zn, were analysed on kidney cortex and medulla of Korean obtained from 154 forensic medical autopsy cadavers. Heavy metals were analysed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry In kidney cortex, the concentrations of Al, Cd, Cu, Mn, Mo, Pb, Se, Si and Zn were significantly higher than in the kidney medulla (Cd, Cu, Mn, Mo, Zn : p<0.01, AA, Pb, Se, Si : p<0.05). No significant local differences were found between kidney cortex and kidney medulla in the concentrations of As, Cr Fe, Hg, Ni, Sn and V. In kidney cortex and kidney medulla, Cd concentrations correlated positively with age, but Mn concentrations correlated negatively with age. A significantly positive correlation between Cd and Zn, Cd and Cu, Zn and Cu, Al and Si, Se and As was found in kidney cortex and kidney medulla. A significantly positive correlation between Hg and Se was only observed in kidney cortex. These results indicate that the distribution of hazardous heavy metals is similar to that of essential elements in the tissues.