Background- Microalbuminuria is a prognostic marker for cardiovascular risk regardless of the presence of diabetes. However, data are limited with regard to the relationship between low-grade albuminuria (below the microalbuminuria threshold) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in nondiabetic individuals. We investigated an association between albuminuria below 30 關g/mg and MetS in Korean non-diabetic general population. Methods - The study subjects were selected from the Korean Genomic Rural Cohort (KGRC), an ongoing epidemiologic study conducted on a representative senior population (age > 40 years) of Koreans. It enrolled 2,600 nondiabetic general population (mean age; 56 years; male; 40%) with low grade urinary albuminuria (spot urine albumin creatinine ratio [UACR] <30 關g/mg). We examined associations among MetS itself, its components and UACR values. Results-The prevalence of MetS was 24.3% (male; 19.2%, female; 27.6%). The UACR values as a continuous variable were significantly correlated with the components of MetS , systolic blood pressure (beta=0.06, p=0.003), total cholesterol (beta=0.059, p=0.003), triglyceride (beta=0.078, p<0.001), HDL-cholesterol (beta=-0.085, p<0.001) and fasting blood glucose (beta=0.046, p=0.019). The multivariate logistic regression showed the UACR as a continuous variable were independently associated with MetS (odd ratio, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.005 to 1.034, p =0.008). Conclusion- UACR values even in < 30 關g/mg are independently associated with MetS itself and its components in Korean general population.