Division I represents the second level of the Ice Hockey World Championships.

The best team in each tournament, Austria and Hungary, advanced to the Top Division championship for 2009.

The bottom teams in each group, South Korea and Estonia, were relegated to the lower-level Division II.

The Group A tournament was played in Innsbruck, Austria, from 13 to 19 April 2008.

The Group B tournament was played in Sapporo, Japan, from 13 to 19 April 2008.