Satellite-based downward long wave radiation measurement under clear sky conditions in Northeast Asia was conducted using five well-known physical models (Brunt 1932, Idso and Jackson 1969, Brutsaert 1975, Satterlund 1979, Prata 1996) with a newly proposed global R_ld model (Abramowitz et al. 2012). Data from two flux towers in South Korea were used to validate downward long wave radiation. Moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) atmospheric profile products were used to develop the R_ld models. The overall root mean square error (RMSE) of MODIS R_ld with respect to two ecosystem-type flux towers was determined to be ≈ 20 W m^-2. Based on the statistical analyses, MODIS R_ld estimates with Brutsaert (1975) and Abramowitz et al. (2012) models were the most applicable for evaluating R_ld for clear sky conditions in Northeast Asia. The Abramowitz R_ld maps with MODIS T_a and e_a showed reasonable seasonal patterns, which were well-aligned with other biophysical variables reported by previous studies. The MODIS R_ld map developed in this study will be very useful for identifying spatial patterns that are not detectable from ground-based R_ld measurement sites.