The purpose of this study is to analyze the contents of elementary life science in South and North Korea and the life science units in the 3rd and 5th grades of primary schools in North Korea. The subject of life science education contents are the North Korea's 2013 1st universal 12-year curriculum and South Korea 2015 revised science curriculum. Life science units of the 3rd and 5th grade of North Korea primary schools compared them with the 2015 revised science textbook in South Korea. The results of the study are as follows. First, the contents of elementary life science education in the two Koreas differed in the scope and level of content by grade. Second, in the same elementary life science field, North Korea has more pages than South Korea, but South Korea has more average syllables than North Korea. Third, the number and type of illustrations differed between the two Koreas depending on the field of life science. Fourth, in life science, both South and North Korea were highly dependent on photographic illustrations. In addition, North Korea often used decorative and exemplary functions rather than explanatory and supplementary functions. Fifth, the number of exploration activities between the two Koreas was similar, and the level of exploration activities between the two Koreas was different depending on the field or content of life science. Sixth, the types of inquiry activities were different depending on the educational content of life science, and both the two Koreas were applying various forms of inquiry activities to teaching and learning activities.