Provided is a method for preparing 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural using an acid catalyst in the presence of an ethylene glycol-based solvent. The method for preparing the 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural involves using a linear or cyclic ethylene glycol-based compound as a solvent and producing the 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural from fructose, in the presence of the acid catalyst, thereby reducing the dependency on petroleum in response to greenhouse gas emission regulations. Also, a high yield of the 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural can be obtained from fructose, and the solvent and the catalyst can be efficiently separated, collected, and reused after a reaction has completed.