Method for inputting character of portable terminal having touch screen

A method for inputting characters in a portable terminal having a touch screen is provided to minimize input errors occurring when the characters are inputted in the portable terminal through the touch screen and reduce the number of key inputs when a user inputs the characters through the touch screen. A touch screen displays a fanwise keypad having a plurality of tracks arranged by classifying character keys into each type when a character input mode is executed(413). The character assigned to the character key corresponding to a touch position is displayed in the touch screen when a user touches the touch screen(433). The fanwise keypad includes the predetermined number of character keys arranged in each track and displayed in the touch screen, and reduced keys for displaying the characters excluding the character keys displayed in the touch screen. The types of the characters include uppercase and lowercase alphabets, Hangul consonants/vowels, numbers, and symbols.