Read method of flash memory

The invention is disclosed with respect to the reading of the flash memory, a method for reading multi-bit data stored in the memory cell. Reading method of the flash memory, and a hard decision decoding steps of decoding the soft decision with respect to the read data when the hard decision, which could not be decoded with respect to the read data output from the flash memory. Determining soft decoding is performed by changing the maximum iteration number of times depending on the threshold voltage distribution of memory cells. Hard decision and a soft decoding step of determining is performed by changing the hard decision and the maximum iteration number of times of the soft-decision decoding, depending on the success rate of the hard decision and a soft decision decoding stage.