1. A method for reviewing defects, comprising the steps of: as a search step, obtaining the coordinate information about a defect that is detected beforehand when a sample having a surface on which a pattern is formed is inspected with an inspection apparatus, cutting out the design information about a peripheral region around the defect and the design information about a defect region substantially centered around the coordinates of the defect from the design information about the pattern by using the obtained coordinate information, and searching, in accordance with the cut-out design information about the peripheral region and about the defect region, the peripheral region for a reference region that is designed to have the same appearance as the defect region; as an image acquisition step, acquiring a defect image by imaging a defect-containing region through the use of the coordinate information about a defect detected beforehand by the inspection apparatus, and acquiring a reference image by imaging the reference region retrieved in the search step; and as a review step, comparing the defect image and the reference image, which are acquired in the image acquisition step, to detect and review a review target defect.