Recent warm winters were evaluated for a possible shifting of the northern limit for winter barley cultivation in Korea. Therefore, safe zones for winter barley cultivation were reclassified based on the average and minimum January air temperature in recent years. The results are as follows: By analysis of mean values of January average air temperatures for 30 years (1971-2000), the northern limits for safe cultivation of hulled, naked, and malting barley were Ganghwa - Icheon - Chungju - Chunyang - Goseong, Cheonan - Geumsan - Mungyeong - Andong - Sokcho, and Gwangju - Jangheung - Sancheong - Pohang - Uljin lines, respectively. Meanwhile, based on the January average air temperature of 14 years (1987-2000) with warmer winters, the safe cultivation zone of winter barley shifted northward of the normal (1971-2000). So, the northern limits for hulled, naked, and malting barley were Pocheon - Chuncheon - Wonju - Yangpyeong - Chunyang, Ganghwa - Icheon - Chungju - Uiseong - Goseong, and Gunsan - Suncheon - Jinju - Miryang - Yeongdeok - Uljin lines, respectively. Winter barley cultivars with the strongest tolerance to low temperature can be grown up to the adjacent areas of Taebaek Mountains (that is, Inje, Hongcheon, Jecheon, and Taebaek areas). Based on January mean air temperatures of 10-year return period for 30 years (1971-2000), the northern limits for hulled and naked barley were Boryeong - Namwon - Geochang - Gumi - Goseong and Seocheon - Jeongeup - Hapcheon - Yeongdeok - Sokcho lines, respectively. It ~ppears that malting barley can be cultivated only at southern coastal areas (that is, Busan, Tongyeong, Yeosu, and Wando areas). On the other hand, based on the weather conditions of 14 years (1987-2000) with warmer winters, the northern limits for hulled, naked, and malting barley were Ganghwa - Icheon - Yeongju - Goseong, Seosan - Namwon - Mungyeong - Andong - Sokcho, and Gwangju - Jangheung - Sacheon - Ulsan - Uljin lines, respectively. The northern limit for winter barley cultivars including Olbori with the strongest tolerance to low temperature was the Ganghwa - Wonju - Chungju - Chunyang - Goseong line.