Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for controlling lamps which are provided in a dispenser and a backlight of a manipulation button array. According to the present invention, at least one lamp is provided in the dispenser and an illumination sensor for sensing the surrounding brightness of a refrigerator or a sensor for detecting a user approaching the refrigerator is also provided. There is also provided a memory unit for previously storing a reference luminous intensity, the value of which is capable of being changed by the user. There is also provided a lamp driving unit for selectively controlling the brightness of the lamp by controlling the output signal thereof according to a driving control signal of a control unit. According to the present invention, the user can easily take ice or water from the dispenser because the lamp is turned on.