The alpha-1-microglobulin/bikunin precursor (AMBP) gene encodes alpha-1-microglobulin (A1M), an immunosuppressive lipocalin, and bikunin is located on bovine chromosome 8 and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in AMBP gene, a gene in the QTL region, are associated with meat quality traits in swine. This study aims to investigate the AMBP gene in association to economic traits in Korean cattle (Hanwoo). Through DNA sequencing, we detected a total of 14 (C119A, T148C, T179C, T241A, G4500T, T4605C, G9457A, T9638C, T9648G, C9662T, G9675A, G9936A, T9939C, G9998A) in different regions. We investigated the effect of these mutations by determining their association and variation with economic traits in Hanwoo. Our statistical association analysis revealed that T148C, T179C, T241A, G9457A, C9662T, G9936A, T9939C and G9998A were significantly associated with carcass weight, longissimus dorsi muscle area, backfat thickness and marbling score. Therefore, the AMBP gene may thus serve as a genetic marker for economic traits and as a basis for molecular breeding in Hanwoo.