The men's C-1 500 metres event was an open-style, individual canoeing event conducted as part of the Canoeing at the 1988 Summer Olympics program.
18 competitors were entered, but three withdrew prior to the heats.
Held on September 26, the top three finishers in each heat moved on to the semifinals with the others were relegated to the repechages.
Heat 2 was scheduled, but not held with all three competitors advancing to the semifinals due to an insufficient number of entrants.
The second repechage was scheduled, but not held with both competitors advancing to the semifinals.