Provided are a method and apparatus for decoding a mixed code that is a
combination of first and second code images. In the method, a mixed code
image is obtained by receiving the original image having the mixed code
image and removing noise from the original image. Next, the colors,
shades, and brightnesses of pixels of the mixed code image are
categorized into groups based on a predetermined threshold, the mixed
code image is divided into first and second code images, and first and
second information are extracted by decoding the first and second code
images, respectively. The first and second code images can be effectively
decoded by decoding interpretation information, construction information,
error control information, and code direction information stored in the
first and/or second code images.