<p>The mechanical performance and failure behavior of cross-laminated timber (CLT) with plywood as a core layer, especially across different wood species and pressing methods, remain insufficiently investigated. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the shear performance of CLT panels incorporating plywood core layers manufactured from two wood species (<i>Larix kaempferi</i> and <i>Pinus densiflora</i>) under cold- and hot-pressing conditions. Plywood panels were manufactured using phenol-resorcinol-formaldehyde (PRF) adhesive for cold pressing and melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF) adhesive for hot pressing. Mechanical tests, including bending, planar shear, and block shear tests, were conducted in accordance with Korean Industrial Standards and ASTM International Standards. Solid lumber consistently exhibited higher planar and block shear strength than plywood cores due to its continuous grain. While larch plywood generally showed higher mechanical properties than pine due to its greater density, the optimal pressing method was found to be species-dependent. Cold-pressing effectively optimized the shear performance for pine by preserving fiber integrity, whereas hot-pressing facilitated better bond consolidation and shear strength for larch. Failure mode analysis indicated a shift from cohesive wood failure in solid lumber to adhesive or mixed failure in plywood. In hot-pressed specimens, rapid resin polymerization and lathe checks in veneers were identified as critical factors limiting bond-line toughness. These findings highlight the necessity of tailoring pressing techniques to specific wood species to optimize CLT shear strength. Furthermore, cold-pressing showed potential as a lower-temperature alternative that may reduce thermal degradation risks, thus offering a viable pathway for more sustainable and economically competitive CLT manufacturing.</p>