A refrigerant recovery operation method for use in a refrigerator in which a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber are independently cooled is disclosed. The refrigerator and the method for controlling the same guarantee a sufficiently long refrigerant recovery operation time by performing the refrigerant recovery operation not only when the compressor starts operation but also before the compressor stops operation, resulting in implementation of the highest operation efficiency of a refrigerating chamber. The refrigerator guarantees high reliability of the compressor by increasing the refrigerant recovery amount within a predetermined pressure range in which the compressor can operate, and maintains an optimum refrigerant amount by variably controlling the refrigerant recovery operation time according to the outdoor air temperature, resulting in improvement of energy efficiency.