Methods and apparatus are provided for transmitting processing reference signals in a mobile communication system. A base station determines a reference signal pattern comprising at least one resource element, generates a bitmap indicator indicating whether zero transmission power is assigned to the at least one resource element of the reference signal pattern, and transmits the reference signal pattern and the bitmap indicator to a terminal. The terminal receives the reference signal pattern and the bitmap indicator, and processes a reference signal extracted according to the reference signal pattern and the bitmap indicator.