Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for recovering styrene monomers from polystyrene resins by using sulfate as a catalyst. The present invention makes possible to thermally decompose polystyrene resins at comparatively low temperatures, and to reduce facility costs, etc., and also makes possible to recover oil containing less ratio of low molecular weight components and a high content of styrene monomers from vapors obtained through thermal decomposition of polystyrene.