Recently, the underground reinforced concrete(RC) box structures have been increasingly built in Korea. In such structures, the heat of hydration may cause serious cracking problems. The RC box structures are classified in this category that needs much attention to control the hydration heat during construction, which causes the restraining effects on the boundaries. The purpose of the present study is to develop the rational construction method to control the thermal cracking problem of the box structures. In this study, the causes and mechanism of thermal cracking according to construction stages in the RC box structures are thoroughly analyzed. The major influencing variables are studied through the finite element analysis which affect the thermal cracking of RC box structures. The research results of the present study can be efficiently used for the control of cracking of box structures during construction stages.