A mobile terminal and a method for controlling operation of the same are provided. A command input key including a command or an icon, which allows the user to input a command to execute an application to the mobile terminal, is displayed on the mobile terminal. The user may input a command to execute at least two applications to the mobile terminal through one command input key. The display state of the command input key is changed according to the pressure or duration of operation of the command input key. Through the changed display state of the command input key, the user can know which type of application is executed in response to operation of the command input key.