The disclosure relates to a method, apparatus, and recording medium for encoding an intra-prediction mode of an image using variable length codes, including: determining an intra prediction mode of a current block; determining an intra prediction mode having smallest mode number among intra prediction modes of encoded adjacent blocks as Most Probable Mode; generating and allocating variable length codes in ascending order from shorter code with higher similarity for directivity with MPM for all intra-prediction modes; and encoding intra prediction mode of current block based on allocated variable length codes, and thereby generates efficient variable length codes in consideration of high correlation in the intra-prediction modes of current block and peripheral blocks even if intra-prediction mode of current block does not match MPM derived with reference to peripheral blocks, and efficiently compressing information on intra-prediction mode of current block using variable length codes, thereby improving intra video encoding performance.