A refrigerator has a device for generating an air curtain for shutting off an opening of a cooling compartment, and plates are disposed at a cool air discharge port of the air curtain generating device. The plates control the discharging direction of the cool air according to the opening and closing of a door. When the door is opened, the air curtain for preventing the leakage of cool air is generated by the plates. When the door is closed, the cool air is supplied at the area adjacent to the door and the inner spaces of the pockets formed at the door. Thus the foodstuffs in the cooling compartment are rapidly and uniformly cooled.