A perpendicular magnetic recording medium is provided. The perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes: a perpendicular magnetic recording layer formed on a substrate; and at least one soft magnetic under-layer formed between the substrate and the perpendicular magnetic recording layer, wherein the soft magnetic under-layer is made from an alloy of a non-magnetic material and a magnetic material which exists in the form of granular nanoparticles in matrix of the non-magnetic material, and at least two of the magnetic nanoparticles are spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance so as to mutually make an anti-ferromagnetic coupling.