MgO-C refractories, as key basic materials for iron and steel smelting, are widely used as lining brick of converter furnace, furnace wall of electric arc furnace, and brick of ladle slag line. Therefore, it is of great significance for the development of refractory and metallurgical industry to explore new ways of preparing high-performance low-carbon MgO-C refractories. In order to provide a reference for further promoting the development of low-carbon MgO-C refractories, the research progress of improving the structure and properties of low-carbon MgO-C refractories was reviewed from the aspects of the introduction of nanocarbon sources, the surface modification of aggregates and introduction of magnesium-based aggregates, the modification of phenolic resin, the introduction of antioxidants, and the in-situ formation of ceramic phase. Finally, the future research directions of MgO-C refractories were prospected.