Based on high-resolution seismic profiles and sediment data, the upper parts of the southeastern Yellow Sea Mud (SEYSM), Central South Sea Mud (CSSM), and Korea Strait Shelf Mud (KSSM) have been located along the Korean Peninsula since approximately 6 ka. Although shelf mud deposits have been studied extensively, the sediment budget of each shelf mud deposit requires further investigation. We intend to clarify the relationship between the three Holocene Korean shelf mud deposits, efficiency of estuary filtration, and oceanic dynamics along the coast of the Korean Peninsula. Approximately 32.5 to 43.8 \(\times\) 106 tons of suspended sediments are supplied to the study area annually from multiple sources. These sediments are controlled by seasonal fluctuations in front and longshore currents that move along the coast of the Korean Peninsula. As a result, estimated annual accumulation rates in the SEYSM are 9.0–13.2 × 106 ton/year in the upper part of the SEYSM, and 5.3–8.1 × 106 ton/year in the CSSM. The KSSM has an annual accumulation rate of 4.6–6.4 × 106 ton/year. The upper part of the SEYSM accounts for 28–30% of the total sediment supply, the CSSM accounts for 17–18%, and the KSSM accounts for 14–15%. Finally, it was estimated that approximately 17–25% of the fine-grained sediments were supplied to the Ulleung Basin. The results of the sediment budget estimation provide crucial insights into sediment transport pathways, source-to-sink fluxes, and sediment sources in Korean shelf deposits, which have been debated until recently.
