Method for encoding and decoding video, and apparatus using same

A video encoding apparatus, comprising:

• a predictor configured to determine a merge mode that is applied for the current block, to generate inter prediction mode information indicating the merge mode is applied for the current block, to derive merge candidates for the merge mode from neighboring blocks of the current block, to select one of the merge candidates to derive motion information of the current block, to generate index information indicating one of the merge candidates;
• and
• an entropy encoder configured to encode video information including the inter prediction mode information and the index information for the current block,
• wherein the neighboring blocks for the merge candidates include a first neighboring block located in a left side of the current block, a second neighboring block located in an upper side of the current block, and corner neighboring blocks of the current block.

A non-transitory decoder-readable storage medium storing video data, the video data comprising a decoder executable program, which, when executed, causes a decoder to perform the steps, comprising:

• obtaining inter prediction mode information and index information for a current block from the video data;
• determining a merge mode is applied for the current block based on the inter prediction mode information;
• deriving merge candidates for the merge mode from neighboring blocks of the current block;
• selecting one of the merge candidates to derive motion information of the current block based on the index information;
• and
• deriving the motion information of the current block based on the selected merge candidate,
• wherein the neighboring blocks for the merge candidates include a first neighboring block located in a left side of the current block, a second neighboring block located in an upper side of the current block, and corner neighboring blocks of the current block.