Provided is an optical network in which a wavelength division multiplexing-based optical transmission scheme is implemented. An apparatus for cross-connecting an optical path includes a path switch including a plurality of input terminals receiving optical signals from other nodes, and a plurality of output terminals sending the optical signals to the other nodes, the path switch switching the path of the optical signal so that the optical signal input via one of the input terminals is output to one of the output terminals; and a wavelength converter converting a wavelength of the optical signal input via the input terminal and outputting the wavelength-converted optical signal to the output terminal according to a switching result of the path switch. Thus, inefficient use of a network resource due to wavelength collision can be prevented, the path can be automatically cross-connected and thus quickly established, path switching and branch combination can be performed irrespective of wavelength, and switching can be performed irrespective of direction.