The men's discus throw event at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea had an entry list of 29 competitors from 20 nations, with two qualifying groups before the final (12) took place on Saturday October 1, 1988.

The event was won by Jürgen Schult of East Germany, the nation's first victory in the men's discus throw and first medal since 1976.

Romas Ubartas of the Soviet Union took silver, while Rolf Danneberg of West Germany earned bronze.

For the first time, the United States competed in the event but did not make the podium (the Americans had previously failed to win a medal in the men's discus throw only in 1980, when the nation boycotted the Olympics).

The competition used the two-round format introduced in 1936, with the qualifying round completely separate from the divided final.