Disclosed herein are a method and apparatus for sending a discovery message in a wireless communication system. Specifically, a method for transmitting a discovery message in a wireless communication system supporting communication between user equipments (UEs) may include receiving, by a UE, discovery resource area configuration information from an evolved NodeB (eNB), determining, by the UE, the discovery resource area of the UE based on the discovery resource area configuration information and a value measured using a Reference Signal (RS) received from the eNB, selecting, by the UE, a discovery resource for transmitting a discovery message within the determined discovery resource area, and transmitting, by the UE, the discovery message in the selected discovery resource, wherein the discovery resource area configuration information comprises mapping information between the discovery resource area and the value measured by the UE using the RS.