An image display apparatus and a method of operating the same are provided. The image display apparatus includes a display configured to display a screen, and a communicator configured to communicate with a control device. The image display apparatus further includes a processor configured to control the communicator to transmit an activation signal to the control device, in response to the image display apparatus being in a pre-set state, control the communicator to receive a control signal corresponding to a wheel key input that is sensed by the control device in response to the activation signal being transmitted, and control an operation of the image display apparatus, according to an interaction that is determined based on the control signal that is received and state information of the screen.