A method of removing sulfur dioxide from combustion exhaust gas containing said sulfur dioxide, comprising contacting said combustion exhaust gas with an aqueous solution containing at least one organic acid salt selected from the group consisting of alkali metal salts or ammonium salts of acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid to dissolve the sulfur dioxide contained in the combustion exhaust gas in the form of alkali sulfite and alkali sulfate in said aqueous solution and to generate organic acid in said aqueous solution, contacting the resultant solution which contains alkali sulfite, alkali sulfate and organic acid dissolved therein with oxygen or oxygen-containing gas to oxidize said alkali sulfite contained in said solution into alkali sulfate, adding a calcium compound selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide and calcium salt of an organic acid into said solution for reaction of said alkali sulfate contained in said solution with said calcium compound to produce calcium sulfate which precipitates in said solution resulting in formation of said organic acid salt in said solution, and recycling the organic acid salt-containing solution obtained after separation of said calcium sulfate for contact with said combustion exhaust gas.