Disclosed is a time setting method and apparatus for use in a mobile communication terminal. The mobile communicates terminal transmits a short message to a short message service center (SMSC). When receiving a short message service (SMS) status report message indicating if a destination side has received the short message, the mobile communication terminal extracts short message reception time information of the SMSC included in the SMS status report message. The mobile communication terminal sets a time of the mobile communication terminal on a basis of the reception time information.