An AC-driven LED lighting apparatus comprising: a plurality of LED groups; a TRIAC dimmer configured for generating a phase cut AC voltage through phase modulation of an AC voltage corresponding to a selected dimming level; a rectification unit configured for generating a drive voltage through full-wave rectification of the phase cut AC voltage supplied from the TRIAC dimmer;a dimming level detection unit configured for detecting a dimming level of the drive voltage and for outputting a dimming level signal corresponding to the detected dimming level; a phase cut reference setting unit configured for setting a reference value and for outputting the reference value for comparison with the dimming level signal; and an LED driving module configured for receiving the dimming level signal and the reference value and controlling the plurality of LED groups with constant current by comparing the dimming level signal with the reference value, wherein the LED driving module comprises an LED current blocking unit configured to block a drive current from being supplied to the plurality of LED groups when the dimming level signal is less than the reference value, the AC-driven LED lighting apparatus being characterized in that the plurality of LED groups is sequentially driven according to the voltage level of the drive voltage from the rectification unit from a first stage driving interval, wherein the first stage driving interval is defined as an interval in which the voltage level of the drive voltage from the rectification unit is a value between a first forward voltage level and a second forward voltage level, in which only a first LED group is turned on, through a second stage driving interval, wherein the second stage driving interval is defined as an interval in which the voltage level of the drive voltage from the rectification unit is a value between the second forward voltage level and a third forward voltage level, in which the first LED group and a second LED group are turned on, to an n th stage driving interval, wherein the n th stage driving interval is defined as an interval in which the voltage level of the drive voltage from the rectification unit is a n th forward voltage level, in which all LED groups are driven. a plurality of LED groups; a TRIAC dimmer configured for generating a phase cut AC voltage through phase modulation of an AC voltage corresponding to a selected dimming level; a rectification unit configured for generating a drive voltage through full-wave rectification of the phase cut AC voltage supplied from the TRIAC dimmer;a dimming level detection unit configured for detecting a dimming level of the drive voltage and for outputting a dimming level signal corresponding to the detected dimming level; a phase cut reference setting unit configured for setting a reference value and for outputting the reference value for comparison with the dimming level signal; and an LED driving module configured for receiving the dimming level signal and the reference value and controlling the plurality of LED groups with constant current by comparing the dimming level signal with the reference value, wherein the LED driving module comprises an LED current blocking unit configured to block a drive current from being supplied to the plurality of LED groups when the dimming level signal is less than the reference value, the AC-driven LED lighting apparatus being characterized in that the plurality of LED groups is sequentially driven according to the voltage level of the drive voltage from the rectification unit from a first stage driving interval, wherein the first stage driving interval is defined as an interval in which the voltage level of the drive voltage from the rectification unit is a value between a first forward voltage level and a second forward voltage level, in which only a first LED group is turned on, through a second stage driving interval, wherein the second stage driving interval is defined as an interval in which the voltage level of the drive voltage from the rectification unit is a value between the second forward voltage level and a third forward voltage level, in which the first LED group and a second LED group are turned on, to an n th stage driving interval, wherein the n th stage driving interval is defined as an interval in which the voltage level of the drive voltage from the rectification unit is a n th forward voltage level, in which all LED groups are driven.