In the era of preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for rectal cancer, the role of lateral pelvic lymph node dissection (LPLND) has become much more complicated because preoperative CRT affects both the lateral pelvic lymph nodes (LPLN) and the main tumor. Most previous studies do not demonstrate the benefits of LPLND following preoperative CRT in comparison with total mesorectal excision, although some authors have argued that selective LPLND is beneficial. LPLN treatment strategies differ depending on whether the disease was considered systemic metastatic disease or local disease which can be treated using surgical resection. The role of LPLND in rectal cancer is better evaluated on the basis of its oncologic impact rather than technical feasibility. Here, we review LPLN metastasis status in rectal cancer, whether LPLN metastasis is systemic or local disease, and studies on the use of LPLND to treat rectal cancer.