The fracture toughness of subcritical HAZ in the hot strained weldments of two structural steels(SB 41 and SA 537) has been investigated by COD test method and metallurgical study. The obtained results are summarized as follows; 1. The hot straining embitterment of subcritical HAZ depends on the hot straining amounts of notch tip, and the transition temperature( $T_{tr}$ ) increases with the accumulated hot straining amounts(.SIGMA. vertical bar .delta.$_{t}$vertical bar). 2. The fracture toughness of subcritical HAZ depends on materials and microstructure. The transition temperature( $T_{tr}$ ) of subcritical HAZ in SB 41 is almost same as that of parent material, however in SA 537 the temperature is higher than that of parent and lower than that of transformed HAZ. 3. The subcritical HAZ in SA 537 shows a higher toughness at small amounts of hot straining (.SIGMA. vertical bar .delta. $_{t}$vertical bar<0.3mm).mm).