A character input mode of a mobile terminal permits easier viewing of characters being entered on a virtual keyboard. An apparatus and a method permitting detection of misprinted/omitted character when performing a special character input mode An output manager outputs a character input screen including a virtual keyboard region and a character input field region when entering a character input mode, and outputs an auxiliary character input field showing information of currently input data on the virtual keyboard region. A display unit outputs the auxiliary character input field, the character input field, and the virtual keyboard. When an input of the virtual keyboard is detected, the output manager outputs information of data corresponding to an input position on the character input field and the auxiliary character input field. The character input mode preferably includes a mode for inputting at least one of text data, symbol data, and emoticon data.