A touch input method and a mobile terminal are provided. The mobile terminal includes a touch screen having a transparent display panel, a front touch panel configured to detect a touch input corresponding to the front of the transparent display panel, and a rear touch panel configured to detect a touch input corresponding to a rear of the transparent touch panel. The touch input method includes detecting a touch input from one of the front touch panel and the rear touch panel, determining whether a user's intent is a data input via the rear touch panel in response to the touch input, and displaying a keypad on a top of the touch screen if the user's intent is determined as data input via the rear touch panel.