Disclosed herein is a method for manufacturing a metal steel separator for fuel cells that has corrosion resistance and contact resistance not only at an initial stage but also after being exposed to high temperature/high humidity conditions in the fuel cell for a long period of time. The method includes preparing a stainless steel sheet as a matrix of the metal separator, forming a discontinuous coating film on the surface of the stainless steel sheet, the coating film being composed of at least one selected from gold (Au), platinum (Pt), ruthenium (Ru), iridium (Ir), ruthenium oxide (RuO2), and iridium oxide (IrO2), and heat treating the stainless steel sheet having the discontinuous coating film to form an oxide film on a portion of the stainless steel sheet on which the coating film is not formed. A metal separator for fuel cells manufactured by the method is also disclosed.