1. A method for recognizing a character in a portable device, the method comprising: obtaining, in accordance with a character recognition request, an image using a camera of the portable device in a preview mode in which a plurality of images are being sequentially displayed in real time on a display of the portable device; performing an auto focus function of the camera to obtain an image having a certain level of clarity for character recognition using the camera; character-recognition-processing the image having the certain level of clarity so as to generate recognition result data; and displaying a recognized character row on the display based on the recognition result data.