Refrigerator

A refrigerator comprising:

• a cabinet defining a first storage compartment that is configured to store food;
• a main door rotatably mounted on the cabinet and configured to open or close at least a portion of the first storage compartment and having an opening;
• a sub door mounted on the main door and configured to open or close the opening;
• and
• a door opening assembly that is configured to selectively restrict one side of a back surface of the sub door to a corresponding side of a front surface of the main door to thereby selectively restrict movement of the sub door relative to the main door, the door opening assembly being configured to be manipulated from a side edge portion of the sub door,
• wherein the door opening assembly comprises:
• a portion of a locking unit disposed inside the sub door and configured to be selectively restricted to the main door;
• a manipulation unit disposed at a lower end of the side edge portion of the sub door, at least a portion of the manipulation unit being exposed outside the sub door to be manipulated by a user;
• and
• a connection unit vertically disposed within the sub door to couple the locking unit to the manipulation unit,
• wherein the connection unit is interlocked with the manipulation unit such that manipulating the manipulation unit releases a restriction between the locking unit and the main door,
• wherein the main door includes an accommodation part formed in a front surface thereof, to accommodate a portion of the locking unit,
• wherein the locking unit includes:
• a locking member protruding from the back surface of the sub door to be selectively received in the accommodation part;
• a locking member bracket on which the locking member is rotatably mounted;
• a locking member case accommodating the locking member and the locking member bracket;
• and
• a case cover to cover an opened portion of the locking member case, and
• wherein the locking member includes:
• a body horizontally extending to protrude by passing through the back surface of the sub door, an upper end of the connection unit being in contact with a lower surface of the body;
• a restriction part formed at one end of the body and having a hook shape to be hooked to the accommodation part of the main door;
• a rotation shaft formed at the other end of the body to allow the restriction part to rotate thereabout;
• and
• an elastic member disposed on the rotation shaft to provide an elastic force for allowing the locking member to return to its original position.