An apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving a symbol through a reverse control channel in a mobile communication system for providing packet data are provided. When reverse traffic is present, the apparatus and method can effectively demodulate and decode the reverse traffic. In a method for transmitting a reverse channel in the mobile communication system capable of discontinuously transmitting packet data, a transmission is performed by setting power of a Data Rate Indicator (DRI) channel to a predefined power when packet data is transmitted. When no packet data is transmitted, a transmission is performed by decreasing the power of the DRI channel.