a method for discriminating a type of an optical recording medium including the steps of : checking a disk is mounted ; performing a focus - searching by rotating a mounted disk by means of a recording / reproducing system for a specific disk to detect a focus search level , and identifying whether the currently mounted disk belongs to a specific type on the basis of the detected focus - search level ; detecting an rf level and / or a focus error signal level by rotating the mounted disk , and identifying a type of the currently mounted disk on the basis of the detected signal . also , a method for discriminating a type of an optical recording medium by detecting an rf signal and a focus error signal while performing a focus - searching as the optical recording medium is inserted , including : a first discriminating step for detecting a focus zero cross position from a focus error signal as inputted during focus - searching , and discriminating whether the optical recording medium belongs to a cd group or to a dvd group by using a level of a focus search wave form detected from the focus zero cross position ; and a second discriminating step for discriminating whether the optical recording medium discriminated as the cd group disk or the dvd group disk in the above step is a reproducing - only recording medium or a recordable recording medium by using an rf signal level or a focus error signal level .