The catalytic effect of K₂CO₃ and N₂CO₃ on stream gasification of various coal chars has been investigated in a fixed-bed type reactor under the atmospheric pressure. Activated carbon and 3 kinds of coal chars obtained from Korean Jangsung anthracite, Chinese Tatong bituminous and Indonesian lignite have been used as samples. Addition of alkaline catalysts such as Na₂CO₃ and K₂CO₃ to the samples has lowered the reaction temperature by about 170℃ for obtaining the same conversion as in the non-catalytic case. The gasification process is well-described by the unreacted shrinking-core model, and the rates show compensation effect as the samples are loaded with catalysts. In case of the Na₂CO₃-loaded activated carbon, the isokinetic temperature is about 1500K. An increase in the catalyst loading enhances the reaction reat and the CO₂/CO molar ratio among products, but the rate and the ratio become almost constant above the catalyst loading of 15wt%. In case of the catalyst-loaded coal chars, activation energy of CO formation is lower and selectivity for CO production is higher than those in the non-catalytic case.