The men's long jump at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea had a start list of 41 competitors from 31 nations, with two qualifying groups (41 jumpers) before the final (12) took place on Sunday September 25, 1988.

The event was won by 23cm by Carl Lewis of the United States, the nation's second consecutive and 18th overall gold medal in the men's long jump.

Larry Myricks finally won an Olympic medal; he was on track to be part of a medal-sweeping team in 1976 before breaking his foot in warmups for the final, he was the favorite in 1980 before the United States boycotted the Games, and he had come in fourth in 1984.

[2] Algeria, Bangladesh, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, and Swaziland each made their first appearance in the event.

The qualifying round gave each competitor three jumps to achieve a distance of 8.00 metres; if fewer than 12 men did so, the top 12 (including all those tied) would advance.