A hinge apparatus and a portable terminal are provided including a pair of
housings configured to open or close and one of the housings is
positioned in parallel with a side of the other to rotate the portable
terminal about 90.degree. according to user preference. Thus, the user
can enjoy the horizontal view of a screen of a display device.
Consequently, the user can conveniently watch the screen provided through
a multimedia service. The hinge apparatus that rotates a housing such
that the housing is positioned in parallel with a side of the other
housing provides a driving force exerted in a direction that is the same
as or opposite to a direction the housing rotates to implement a
semi-automatic operation and provide user convenience.