Disclosed are a communication technique for merging, with IoT technology, a 5G communication system for supporting a data transmission rate higher than that of a 4G system, and a system therefor. The present disclosure can be applied to intelligent services (for example, smart home, smart building, smart city, smart car or connected car, healthcare, digital education, retail, security, and safety-related services) on the basis of 5G communication technology and IoT-related technology. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for receiving a downlink control channel in a wireless communication system. Particularly, the present invention provides a method and an apparatus allowing a terminal to vary, according to base station settings or instructions, a reception time or reception timing, for a downlink control channel, transmitted from a base station.