There is provided an illumination driving apparatus for a light emitting diode, the apparatus including: a light emitting unit including M number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) connected in series and driven by an output voltage rectified in a rectifying unit; an LED switch unit including N number of LED switches connected in parallel with at least N number of the M LEDs, respectively, and connected in series; an LED switch control signal generating unit comparing the output voltage of the rectifying unit with each of the first to Nth preset reference voltages to generate N number of LED switch control signals controlling the LED switch unit; and an LED switch controlling unit transferring the N number of LED switch control signals to the LED switch unit.