A method for shedding traffic load in a code division multiple access mobile communication system, the method performing a soft handoff operation using the ratio of the received forward link pilot signal power to the sum of all interference signals power to transfer a portion of traffic load in the present serving cell with a high traffic density to an adjacent cell with a low traffic density. When the amount of traffic load in the present serving cell is increased and thus exceeds a link capacity of the present serving cell, handoff parameters of all mobile stations in the present serving cell can be updated on the basis of a power allocation state managed by a base station without reducing the coverage of a forward link. On the basis of the updated handoff parameters, the soft handoff operation is performed from a part of the mobile stations in the present serving cell with the high traffic density (for example, mobile stations at the edge of the present serving cell) to the adjacent cell with the low traffic density. Therefore, the excessive traffic load amount in the present serving cell can effectively be shed.