An apparatus and method is provided for a mobile terminal with a rotating key having a plurality of dome switches on one side which can detect a contact signal when pressed and a plurality of contact surfaces on the other side which can detect the position of the rotating key in each direction of rotation. The apparatus and method for using the rotating key comprise the steps of detecting if the rotating key is turned or a dome switch is pressed in a menu selection mode; when the rotating key is turned, selecting a menu according to the direction of rotation; and when a dome switch is pressed, selecting a menu according to the pressed dome switch.