A rechargeable battery protection apparatus includes: a battery module including a plurality of unit cells coupled in series between a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and configured to be coupled to a charger through a first external port coupled to the positive terminal and a second external port coupled to the negative terminal to charge the plurality of unit cells; a pack fuse on a high current path between the battery module and the charger; and a connector that forms a bypass path that bypasses a current between a first unit cell and a second unit cell among the plurality of unit cells to the pack fuse depending on an internal pressure of the battery module.