Method and apparatus for providing user interface of portable device

A method includes displaying a user interface for displaying a graphic and a hidden graphic in a first area; displaying a set of contents corresponding to the graphic in a second area distinguishable from the first area; detecting a user's gesture for selecting a part of the first area; enlarging the first area to include a part of the second area; displaying a plurality of graphics including the graphic and the hidden graphic in the extended first area in response to the user's gesture; detecting a user's additional gesture for moving a first graphic among the plurality of graphics; and moving the first graphic to a part of the extended first area in response to the user's additional gesture, and moving a second graphic of the plurality of graphics to an area from which the first graphic is moved out.