A page buffer circuit may include: a first node; a first switching circuit configured to pre-charge the bit-line based on a voltage provided to the first switching circuit; a sensing node; a second switching circuit configured to discharge the sensing node when the voltage value of the first node is lower than a voltage value associated with a voltage inputted to the second switching circuit during an evaluation period; a sense latch configured to latch a voltage being determined based on the voltage level of the sensing node, during a strobe period; and a third switching circuit configured to prevent the voltage value of the first node from being lower than a voltage value associated with a voltage inputted to the third switching circuit independently from the voltage at the sense latch.