Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of liraglutide with those of glimepiride, both in combination with metformin in Asian T2D population from China, Korea and India. Korean subgroup was analysed from the Asian trial. Methods: A 16-week, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, four-arm, active control trial was carried out. 170 Koreans among 929 subjects with type 2 diabetes were with a mean (±s.d.) age of 54.3 ± 10.3 years, HbA₁C of 8.7 ± 1.0% and body weight of 68.7 ± 11.3 kg. They were randomized (liraglutide 0.6, 1.2 or 1.8 mg or glimepiride 4 mg all in combination with metformin: 1 : 1 : 1 : 1). The change in HbA1c after 16 weeks of treatment was evaluated in Korean subjects. Results: A 16-week treatment with liraglutide (1.2 or 1.8 mg/day) plus metformin in T2D subjects reduced HbA1c and was non-inferior to glimepiride plus metformin group (1.73%, 2.04%, 1.38%, respectively). Superiority of liraglutide 1.8 mg versus glimepiride was demonstrated (LS mean -0.66%, [95% CI: -1.07; -0.24] p <.0001). 2.4 to 2.9 kg of the weight loss was observed in all liraglutide groups, while no change in the glimepiride group (p <.0001). Overall incidences of hypoglycaemia (plasma glucose < 3.1 mmol/L) were lower in all liraglutide groups (0.6, 1.2 or 1.8 mg/day) than the glimepiride group (2.4%, 0%, 2.4%, 4.8%, respectively). SBP decreased by 5.57 to 11.79 mm Hg in all four groups. All liraglutide groups showed comparable safety profiles with the glimepiride group except more frequent gastrointestinal events (26.2%, 37.2%, 54.8%, 4.8%, respectively), which were dose-dependent, occurring mainly during the first 4 weeks. Conclusion: Korean T2D subjects with liraglutide led to improved glycaemic control similar to that with glimepiride but with less hypoglycaemia. Liraglutide also induced a significant weight loss, reduced SBP and was generally well tolerated.