A method for performing a handover in a mobile communication system, which is capable of independently performing an uplink handover and a downlink handover, is disclosed. An uplink channel status of a base station is checked and the uplink handover to a base station having a good uplink channel status is performed. A downlink channel status of a base station is checked and the downlink handover to a base station having a good downlink channel status is performed. Accordingly, an uplink base station and a downlink base station may be different from each other. Transmission/reception efficiency can be improved by independently performing the handover.