Provided are an automatic focusing method in which a photograph region is brought into focus through automatic movement of a focal lens to a focal position, in response to a photographing-command signal, and a digital photographing apparatus using the method. The method includes dividing the photograph region into a plurality of sub-regions, focusing on the sub-regions and obtaining focal position values DS.sub.FOC, calculating an average focal position value ADS.sub.FOC of the focal position values DS.sub.FOC, selecting focal position values DS.sub.FOC whose differences from the average focal position value ADS.sub.FOC are equal to or less than a threshold value D.sub.TH, and moving the focal lens to a focal position corresponding to the focal position value DS.sub.FOC having the shortest focal distance among the selected focal position values DS.sub.FOC.