AIM: To evaluate the prevalence of chronic gastroin-testinal symptoms and their impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in the Korean population. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey, using a reliable and valid Rome Ⅱ based questionnaire, was per-formed on randomly selected residents, between 18 and 69 years in age. All respondents were interviewed at their homes or offices by a team of interviewers. The impact of chronic gastrointestinal symptoms on HRQOL was assessed using the Korean version of the 36-item Short-Form general health survey (SF-36). RESULTS: Of the 1807 eligible subjects, 1417 (78.4%: male 762; female 655) were surveyed. Out of the respondents, 18.6% exhibited at least one chronic gastrointestinal symptom. The prevalence of gastro- esophageal reflux disease (GERD), defined as heart- burn and/or acid regurgitation experienced at least weekly, was 3.5% (95% CI, 2.6-4.5). The prevalence of uninvestigated dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic constipation based on Rome Ⅱ cri- teria were 11.7% (95% CI, 10.1-13.5), 2.2% (95%CI, 1.5-3.1), and 2.6% (95% CI, 1.8-3.5) respectively. Compared with subjects without chronic gastrointesti- nal symptoms (n = 1153), those with GERD (n = 50), uninvestigated dyspepsia (n = 166) and IBS (n = 31) had signifi cantly worse scores on most domains of the SF-36 scales. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of GERD, uninvesti-gated dyspepsia and IBS were 3.5%, 11.7% and 2.2% respectively, in the Korean population. The health- related quality of life was signifi cantly impaired in sub-jects with GERD, uninvestigated dyspepsia and IBS in this community. AIM: To evaluate the prevalence of chronic gastroin-testinal symptoms and their impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in the Korean population. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey, using a reliable and valid Rome Ⅱ based questionnaire, was per -formed on randomly selected residents, between 18 and 69 years in age. All respondents were interviewed at their homes or offices by a team of interviewers. The impact of chronic gastrointestinal symptoms on HRQOL was assessed using the Korean version of the 36-item Short RESULTS: Of the 1807 eligible subjects, 1417 (78.4%: male 762; female 655) were surveyed. Out of the respondents, 18.6% exhibited at least one chronic gastrointestinal symptom. The prevalence of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) defined as heart-burn and / or acid regurgitation experienced at least weekly, was 3.5% (95% CI, 2.6-4.5). The prevalence of uninvestigated dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic consti pation based on Rome Ⅱ cri- teria were 11.7% (95% CI, 10.1-13.5), 2.2% (95% CI, 1.5-3.1), and 2.6% (95% CI, 1.8-3.5) respectively. with chronic gastrointesti- nal symptoms (n = 1153), those with GERD (n = 50), uninvestigated dyspepsia (n = 166) and IBS (n = 31) had signifi cantly worse scores on most domains of the SF- CONCLUSION: The prevalence of GERD, uninvesti-gated dyspepsia and IBS were 3.5%, 11.7% and 2.2% respectively, in the Korean population. The health-related quality of life was signifi cantly impaired in sub-jects with GERD, uninvestigated dyspepsia and IBS in this community.