For the evaluation in the safety of outdoor insulator, there are various methods such as: visual observation; voltage measurement; use of ultrasonic wave due to partial discharge; electric field measurement; use of infrared/ultraviolet sensor-type camera. However, many problems have been issued regrading the reliability of the evaluation test and safety of testing operation. Accordingly, the present study has investigated and analyzed the characteristics and mechanisms of the insulator deterioration, in order to obtain an optimal method for detecting poor insulator so that the reliability of power facilities can be enhanced. Besides, based on theoretical analysis of domestic and international detection methods for poor insulator, the reliability has been compared and evaluated quantitatively. As a result, it was shown that the corona camera would be the best choice for domestic workplace application in detecting poor insulator for enhancing the reliability of power transmission line.