Our aim was to identify the risk factors associated with locoregional recurrence in resected distal bile duct cancer (DBDC), and to determine the subgroup that may benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy. Between 2001 and 2013, we retrospectively analyzed 93 patients with DBDC who had undergone curative resection. Patients who received adjuvant radiotherapy were excluded. The 3-year locoregional failure-free survival (LRFFS) and overall survival (OS) rates for all patients were 50.7%, and 53.2%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, the preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level, resection margin, histologic grade, T stage, and N stage were significant prognostic factors for LRFFS. Locoregional recurrence was observed in more than 78% of the patients who underwent R1 resection and were node-positive, and the 3-year LRFFS rate was 19.3%. The 3-year LRFFS rate was 46.9% in the patients who underwent R0 resection and were node-negative with more than 2 risk factors (preoperative CEA level ≥ 5 ng/mL, poorly differentiated histologic grade, and T3 stage). On multivariate analysis for OS, patients with more than 2 risk factors showed a 7-fold higher risk of death, compared with patients with 1 or no risk factor. The important risk factors of locoregional failure in patients with DBDC who underwent resection were R1 resection and positive lymph nodes. Adjuvant radiotherapy should be considered for these patients to improve the oncologic outcomes. Patients undergoing selective R0 resection and those with node-negative status and multiple locoregional failure risk factors may benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy.