The aim of this investigation was to analyze the association between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 promoter gene -1607 bp region and cervical cancer risk in Korean women. The blood samples of 232 cervical cancer patients and 332 non-cancer control subjects who managed at Seoul National University Hospital from 1999 to 2002 were collected. Polymorphism in MMP-1 promoter -1607 region was determined using TaqMan method. Allele frequency and genotype distribution in the cervical cancer group were compared with those of the control group to determine whether this polymorphism elevates the susceptibility of Korean women to cervical cancer. The relationship between this SNP and cancer invasiveness was also evaluated by collating clinicopathologic data of those in the cancer group, such as FIGO stage, lymph node status, histologic type and parametrial invasion. In the cervical cancer group, the allele frequency of 2G was 66.1%, in the control group 68.2%, showing no significant difference (P=0.41). Similarly the genotypes with insertion (2G/2G) or deletion (1G/1G) polymorphism showed no increased risk for cervical cancer susceptibility compared with 1G/2G genotype. A subgroup analysis of the clinicopathologic parameters in cancer group also showed no significant difference suggesting the lack of an association between SNP of the MMP-1 promoter -1607 bp region and cervical cancer invasiveness. In conclusion, this study shows that Korean with specific polymorphism in MMP-1 are neither more susceptible to develop cervical cancer nor more vulnerable for cancer progression.