Mobile terminal having qwerty key layout and method of setting and inputting symbol therein

A method of setting a symbol in a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

• selecting one of an addition function, a deletion function, and a change function of a symbol defined by a user;
• adding, if the addition function is selected, a symbol selected by the user to a key mapping table;
• deleting, if the deletion function is selected, a symbol selected by the user from the key mapping table;
• and
• changing, if the change function is selected, a symbol selected by the user to another symbol selected by the user,
• wherein the symbol comprises a character other than a letter and a numeral.

A mobile terminal, the terminal comprising:

• a key input unit having a key layout;
• a memory unit for storing a first key mapping table in which existing characters are mapped to the keys, a second key mapping table in which symbols defined by a user are mapped to the keys, and an existing symbol table including existing symbols;
• and
• a controller for loading, when a request for a display function of user-defined symbols is input, the second key mapping table, for controlling the display of the second key mapping table with the key layout, for inputting, when a specific key is input, a symbol mapped to the input key, for adding, if an addition function is selected as a setting function, a symbol selected by the user to the second key mapping table, for deleting, if a deletion function is selected as a setting function, a symbol selected by the user from the second key mapping table, and for changing, if a change function is selected as a setting function, a symbol selected by the user to another symbol selected by the user in the second key mapping table,
• wherein the symbols comprise characters other than letters and numerals.