The present invention provides methods for surface-modifying a rubber vulcanizate or a thermoplastic elastomer, which can cost-effectively provide a variety of functions, such as sliding properties, according to the application. The present invention relates to a method for surface-modifying a rubber vulcanizate or a thermoplastic elastomer as a target for modification, the method including: step 1 of forming polymerization initiation points on a surface of the modification target; and step 2 of radically polymerizing a non-functional monomer, starting from the polymerization initiation points, to grow non-functional polymer chains, and then radically polymerizing a fluoropolyether segment-containing functional monomer to grow functional polymer chains.