Provided are a pulse-matched filter-based packet detection apparatus and method. The packet detection apparatus includes a photoelectric converter for converting an optical wireless communication signal into an electrical signal, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for converting the electrical signal into a digital signal, a pulse-matched filter for outputting a first correlation representing a correlation between a pulse obtained by oversampling a modulated pulse and the digital signal, a correlator for outputting a second correlation representing a correlation between the first correlation and a preamble code, a packet detection signal generator for generating a packet detection signal by comparing the second correlation and a packet detection threshold value, and a demodulator for demodulating the digital signal based on the packet detection signal.