A method for performing discovery at a terminal in a communication system is provided. The method includes generating a discovery request message including discovery target information, transmitting the discovery request message to a Proximity Service (ProSe) server that is located in a core network of the communication system and that manages communication of the terminal, and receiving a result of a discovery operation from another entity that performs the discovery operation of the terminal using discovery identification information about the terminal. The other entity is selected based on the discovery target information by the ProSe server.