| Summary: | In this study, we investigate the characteristics of two main clones of carbapenemase-producing <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> isolates from South Korea, ST11 and ST307, including carbapenem-susceptible isolates. Antibiotic susceptibility, serotype or <i>wzi</i> allelic type, the presence of virulence genes, and virulence with respect to serum resistance and macrophage internalization were determined for ST11 and ST307 isolates. ST11 isolates had a wide range of characteristics, including serotype and virulence, compared with those of homogeneous ST307 isolates. The <i>wzi14</i> or K14 type had higher virulence than that of other serotypes among the ST11 isolates, and the homogeneous ST307 isolates showed similar virulence level as that of the <i>wzi14</i>-type ST11 isolates. Our data suggest that it is necessary to monitor not only the introduction and spread of a specific clone, but also its detailed serotype.
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