Abstract

Accurate taxonomic inventories are essential for biodiversity conservation, ecological management, and research. Existing checklists of Korean fishes rely on outdated frameworks and inconsistently applied Korean nomenclature, limiting their reliability. Recent molecular studies reveal taxonomic gaps and discrepancies, highlighting the need for revision. We aimed to update and standardize the checklist of Korean native fishes, clarify nomenclatural ambiguities, and provide a robust reference for biodiversity management and research. Major field guides, publications, and national databases, including the National List of Species of Korea (MABIK, 2025; NIBR, 2025), were reviewed. Taxonomy was standardized using Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes (van der Laan et al., 2025), and Korean names were assigned or revised based on historical and recent sources. Species requiring phylogenetic review and non-indigenous or misidentified species were identified. The revised checklist comprises 5 classes, 57 orders, 268 families, and 1,426 species, compared with 4 classes, 43 orders, 225 families, and 1,361 species previously. Higher-order groups, particularly Elasmobranchii and Actinopteri, were reorganized. Korean names were standardized for 26 families and 25 genera. Species requiring taxonomic reassessment and those excluded were systematically documented. The revised checklist provides a reliable foundation for national biodiversity records, ecological management, and research. It enhances taxonomic clarity and offers a basis for future investigations of unrecorded species and genetic diversity among regional populations.