An apparatus and method of protecting a fuser unit and an image forming apparatus having the same include a fuser drive motor portion to drive the fuser unit, a power detecting portion to detect power that is supplied to the fuser unit, and a power cutoff portion to cut off the power supplied to the fuser unit when a motor rotation signal is not output from the fuse drive motor portion and the power detecting portion detects the power that is supplied to the fuser unit. The fuser unit protecting apparatus and method and the image forming apparatus including the fuser unit protecting apparatus are configured to detect rotation of a fuser drive motor and supply of an alternating current required for a temperature rise and cut off the power supply when abnormal conditions occur, to prevent a continuous rise in a temperature of the fuser unit as well as deformation thereof.