This study was conducted to examine the changes in the molecular structure and physiological activities of silk fibroin by gamma irradiation. The results of gel permeation chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the molecular weight of fibroin was increased depending upon the irradiation dose. Secondary structure of fibroin determined by using circular dichroism revealed that the ratio of $alpha$-helix was increased up to 10 kGy and then decreased depending upon the irradiation dose. Whereas, the ratio of $eta$-sheet, $eta$-turn, and random coil were decreased and then increased with an alteration in the $alpha$-helix secondary conformation. The 2.2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of fibroin was increased by gamma irradiation at 5 kGy, but was decreased above 10 kGy depending upon the irradiation dose. Also, the inhibition activities of tyrosinase and melanin synthesis of fibroin were increased by gamma irradiation. These results indicated that gamma irradiation could be used as an efficient method to make fibroin more suitable for the development of functional foods and cosmetics.