An apparatus and method are provided for controlling a movement and rotation of a displayed three-dimensional graphic object using a user input, such as a click or slide on a touch pad. The apparatus for controlling a three-dimensional motion of a graphic object includes a touch pad which receives a user input by a touch, a position determining unit which determines a touch position of the user input on the touch pad, a path detecting unit which detects a slide path and a direction of the slide path based on the determined touch position, and a graphic object control unit which controls a three-dimensional motion of a graphic object according to the detected slide path.