PURPOSE: We performed this study to investigate the effects of adding rebamipide to cryoprotectant, to identify the improvement in sperm parameters by antioxidative action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semen samples from 30 normal healthy volunteers were collected. Rebapimide was added with various concentration in cryoprotectant. All specimens were cryopreservated for 3 days and thawed at room temperature. Sperm motility, vitality, fertile activity, levels of ROS and lipid peroxidation were analyzed by semen analysis, eosin-nigrosin stain, hypo-osmotic swelling test, chemiluminescence and thiobarbituric acid method, respectively, before and after cryopreservation and thawing. RESULTS: After cryopreservation and thawing, the sperm motility was significantly decreased in all concentrations, but motility was higher in proportion to concentration of rebapimide (p<0.05). The sperm vitality showed no significant difference related to the concentration of rebamipide related cryopreservation (p>0.05). The levels of seminal ROS and the lipid peroxidation were significantly decreased in proportion to the concentration of rebamipide after cryopreservation and thawing (p<0.05), but the total swelling rate in hypo-osmotic swelling test was significantly increased (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that rebamipide is an effective free radical scavenger to protect sperm from oxidative cellualr damage during cryopreservation and thawing.