This study was undertaken to grasp the relationship between perceived health status, health conception and health promoting behavior in the elderly. The subjects for this study were 157 old persons in Kyung-ju city. Data were collected by interview with questionnaires from August 24 to October 10, 1999. Analysis of the data was done by SPSS program using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation Coefficient, stepwise multiple regression. The results were summarized as follows : 1. For the practice of health promoting behavior, the mean score was 2.52. The factor of the highest mean score was nutrition(3.02) and factor of the lowest mean score was exerciset(2.03). 2. According to age(F=3.35, P=.012), sex(t=2.26, P=.025), marital status(F=5.08, P=.007), education(F=4.22, P=.003), family number(F=5.31, P=.006), people living together (F=2.77, P=.044), economic status(F=7.10, P=.001), average monthly pocket money (F=3.35, P=.012), there were differences of health promoting behavior. 3. According to age(F=3.40, P=.011), sex(t=4.30, P=.000), education(F=8.55, P=.000), economic status(F=12.59, P=.000), average monthly pocket money(F=4.26, P=.003), present disease(t=-8.41, P=.000), there were differences of perceived health status. According to marital status(F=3.36, P=.037), education(F=2.89, P=.038), there were differences of health conception. 4. Performance in the health promoting behavior was significantly correlated with perceived health status(r=.272, P=.001), health conception(r=.345, P=.000) 5. The combination of well-being health conception and average monthly pocket money explained 24.7% of the variance of health-promoting behavior. On the basis of the above findings the following recommendations are made; Nursing interventions enhancing exercise or activity, accountability for health, stress management of the elderly must be provided. And Cost-effective health promoting program for the elderly must be developed.