Abstract: In a method for decoding an error correction code in which a first correction code of (n.sub.1, k.sub.1) (where n.sub.1 denotes the code length) is encoded for every k.sub.1 information symbols arranged in each column and a second error correction code of (n.sub.2, k.sub.2) (where n.sub.2 denotes the code length) are encoded for every k.sub.2 information symbols arranged in each row of a two dimensional arrangement of (k.sub.1 .times.k.sub.2), a first pointer formed by decoding the first error correction code is stored in a memory having n.sub.2 bits, a second pointer formed by decoding the second error correction code is stored in a memory having k.sub.2 bits, reliability of the information symbols is evaluated on the basis of status of the first and second pointers when the information symbols is outputted.