Earthquake resistant R/C frame structures are generally designed to prevent the columns from plastic hinging. R/C columns under higher axial load or strong earthquake showed a brittle behavior due to the deterioration of strength and stiffness degradation. An experimental study was conducted to examine the behavior and to find the relationship between amounts of lateral reinforcements and compressive strength of ten R/C column specimens subjected to reversed cyclic lateral load and higher axial load. Test results are follows : An increase in the amount of lateral reinforcement results in a significant improvement in both ductility and energy dissipation capacities of columns. R/C columns with sub-tie provide the improved ductility capacity than those with closely spaced lateral reinforcement only. While the load resisting capacity of the high strength R/C columns is higher than the normal strength concrete columns under both an identical ratio of lateral reinforcement, however the ductility capacity of high strength R/C columns is decreased considerably. Therefore, the amounts of lateral reinforcement must be designed carefully to secure the sufficient ductility and economic design of HSC columns under higher axial load.