Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for user authentication. According to an embodiment, the invention provides a method for user authentication in a video communication apparatus, the video communication apparatus including a user authentication unit, the method comprising: receiving image data of a plurality of users; detecting a face region of each of the plurality of users by using the received image data; performing, by the user authentication unit, a user authentication by comparing face feature information corresponding to each of the detected face regions with pre-registered face feature information; and permitting, by the user authentication unit, an access to a video communication service by a user corresponding to at least one of the detected face regions using the user authentication result.