Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of critical thinking disposition and empathy on cultural competency in nursing students. Methods: The participants were 199 nursing students from D, H, and W universities in J province. Data were collected from April 1 to May 30, 2016, and analyzed using SPSS/WIN 21.0. Results: The mean score for critical thinking disposition was 3.53±0.37, for empathy, 3.73±0.33, and for cultural competency, 3.23±0.40. Critical thinking disposition showed a positive correlation with cultural competency (r=.32, p<.001) and empathy showed a positive correlation with cultural competency (r=.31, p<.001). Critical thinking disposition showed a positive correlation with empathy (r=.36, p<.001). Significant factors that influenced cultural competency were critical thinking disposition, empathy, foreign residents in the family, and participating in cultural education. These variables explained 18% of cultural competency. Conclusion: These findings indicate that critical thinking disposition and empathy enhancement programs should be developed to increase cultural competency in nursing students. There is also a need for further studies to examine effects of developed programs.