A writable-once optical recording medium such as a BD-WO, and a method and apparatus for managing the writable-once optical recording medium, are provided. The recording medium includes at least one recording layer having at least one temporary defect management area and at least one final defect management area. The method includes recording temporary defect management information in the temporary defect management area of the recording medium, the temporary defect management information including disc usage management information indicating a recording use status of the recording medium; and transferring, at a transfer stage, the temporary defect management information from the temporary defect management area to the final defect management area of the recording medium.