An apparatus and method for monitoring the performance of cores based on a multi-core processor. The apparatus includes a status information collection unit and a monitoring unit. The status information collection unit collects a plurality of pieces of status information extracted from respective cores, and stores the plurality of pieces of status information in respective memory areas provided for the cores. The monitoring unit receives the status information, sends the status information to a storage unit, and performs monitoring based on the status information. The monitoring unit is provided in any one of the cores.