A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the operation of the mobile terminal are provided. The method includes placing the mobile terminal in lock mode; if a multi-touch signal including first and second touch signals is detected from a display module, releasing the mobile terminal from the lock mode, the first and second touch signals being touch signals detected from first and second areas, respectively, on the display module; and entering an operating mode which is set to enter upon the touching of the second area. Therefore, it is possible to unlock the mobile terminal and then readily enter a predefined operating mode in response to a multi-touch input detected from certain areas on the display module.