Provided are a machine type communication (MTC) support method and apparatus capable of providing efficient MTC service. First, when a base station transmits a subframe to which an MTC-physical control format indicator channel (PCFICH) is allocated using an MTC-PCFICH code that is cyclic-shifted on the basis of a control format indicator (CFI) to MTC user equipment (UE), the MTC UE detects the MTC- PCFICH from the received subframe by performing blind decoding of a cyclic shift, and detects a region occupied by a legacy physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) on the basis of the detected MTC-PCFICH. Accordingly, it is possible to support efficient MTC service in a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE)-based mobile communication system while maintaining compatibility with a legacy LTE station.