The present invention relates to a recording medium and apparatus and
method for managing defective areas in the recording medium. According to
an embodiment, the method includes (a) reading a defect management
information recorded on a defect management area, the defect management
information including second information specifying a location of a
replacement area to replace the defective area and status information
specifying whether or not the defective area is replaced; (b) identifying
the defect management information; and (c) controlling a writing
operation according to the result of step (b).