Lichenicolous fungi (LF) were unfascinated to mycologists and lichen taxonomists in the past. Studying the fungi is one of the most arduous tasks in collaboration of all morphological, anatomical, and molecular analyses, as well as detection of the fungi in the field. Difficulty in getting a nice hand-section due to their tiny size and little biomass of the fungi discourage microscopic and molecular works, respectively. This study comprehended all lichenicolous fungi records in Korea, and statistical analyses revealed significant positive relationships between the LF genera Lichenochora, Lichenostigma, Rinodina and Taeniolella, and the hosts Heterodermia, Phaeophyscia and Pyxine in the order Caliciales on barks in mid-elevated inlands, and between the LF genera Endococcus, Lichenostigma, and Muellerella, and the hosts Aspicilia, Ochrolechia and Pertusaria in the order Pertusariales on rocks in low-elevated areas of islands. Hydropisphaera phaeophysciicola Lee & Hur ad int. is described as a new lichenicolous fungus supported by morphological and molecular analyses. Three lichenicolous fungi, Muellerella lichenicola, Stigmidium microspilum, and Vouauxiomyces santessonii are introduced new to Korea. A surrogate key is provided to assist in the identification of all 31 taxa of Hydropisphaera in the world.
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