Abstract: An apparatus and method for playing back contents in a mobile communication terminal are provided. The apparatus and method easily search for content and play back the searched contents based on items in a mobile communication terminal. The method includes displaying classification items, which are hierarchically associated with each other, in response to a request for displaying a contents list, selecting one of the classification items, and, if the selected classification item has a sub-hierarchy associated therewith, displaying detail items corresponding to the sub-hierarchy, or if the selected classification item is the lowest hierarchy, displaying all contents in the selected classification item. Therefore, the users can easily search for, select, and play back their desired contents according to various items.