Aim(s): The purpose of this study was to identify the level of health literacy (HL) and self-management adherence and to investigate the relationship between HL and self-management adherence in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Method(s): The participants of this study were 165 patients with COPD from a tertiary general hospital located in G city from February 10th to May 10th, 2021. The general HL was measured by Korean health literacy assessment tool (KHLAT) and COPD specific HL was measured by COPD-related HL Tool. The COPD self-management was measured by Self-management adherence tool. Result(s): The mean score of general HL was 60.45±9.42. The mean score of the COPD-related HL was 47.03±8.82. The mean score of the COPD self-management adherence was 87.58±14.47. There were significant differences in the level of COPD-releated HL according to age (t=2.43, p=.016), And in the level of genera HL(F=10.96, p<001) and the level of COPD-releated HL according to the level of education (F=19.14, p<001). There was statistically a significant correlation between the level of general HL and the level of COPD-related HL (r=.75, p<001), and the level of COPD-related HL and the level of self-management adherence (r=.219, p=.005). Conclusion(s): The HL of COPD patients was at the level of middle school 1-2 years in this study. Thus, nurses who care for COPD patients should understand patients’ level of HL and communicate self-management skills with patients at a level appropriate for patients’ HL. In addition, it is necessary to develop strategies to easily learn COPD-related information when providing self-management skills or training.