We evaluated the association between dietary patterns and breast cancer risk according to menopausal and hormone receptor status among Korean women. In a study with 357 cases and 357 age-matched controls, dietary patterns (vegetable-seafood and meat-starch) were derived via principle component analysis based on 39 food groups from a food frequency questionnaire. The relation between dietary patterns and breast cancer risk was assessed by using multivariate logistic regression. The vegetable-seafood pattern was inversely associated with breast cancer risk [odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for high vs. low intake = 0.14 (0.08-0.25); P for trend < 0.001]. No association between the meat-starch pattern and breast cancer risk was found. The association between dietary patterns and breast cancer risk was not modified by menopausal and combined hormone receptor status. These findings indicate that a diet rich in vegetables and seafood is associated with a decreased breast cancer risk in Korean women.