Protection circuit for battery pack and battery pack comprising the same

A protection circuit (200) for a battery pack (100) including a rechargeable battery cell (110) having a positive electrode (111) and a negative electrode (112) is disclosed. The protection circuit (200) comprises a self-discharge switching device (230) connected electrically to the positive electrode (111) and the negative electrode (112) of the battery cell (110); and a control unit (240) connected electrically to the battery cell (110) and the self-discharge switching device (230) to turn-on or turn-off the self-discharge switching device (230) according to a temperature of the battery cell (110).