A method and apparatus for transmitting a control channel in a base station for a wireless communication system. The base station transmits information including a number of channel elements constituting control channels, to a terminal; establishes a set of control channels that the terminal can receive, within the number of channel elements using an identifier (ID) of the terminal; and transmits control information to the terminal through a selected control channel among the control channels. The terminal is restricted to monitor only a proper number of control channels established without the need to monitor all control channels, thereby reducing reception complexity and avoiding unnecessary battery consumption.