Abstract: A viewing distance warning/sound recording apparatus for a television receiver and the method thereof, which can provide viewing distance warning by outputting a visible message for warning when a televiewer watches television at too near a distance as well as reproduce a specific message of the televiewer to others during his absence. The apparatus according to the present invention comprises a microcomputer, a sensing circuit for detecting if an object exists within a predetermined distance from a television screen under the control of the microcomputer and a sound processing circuit for recording and reproducing a sound according to control signals of the microcomputer. The apparatus also includes a key matrix having function keys for setting sound recording, message output and viewing distance warning modes, respectively.