1. A method for controlling an application based on a handwriting input, the method comprising: displaying a first screen on a touch screen display of a terminal; receiving a message associated with an application, the message being received while displaying the first screen; displaying a notification indicating the message receipt on the touch screen display while displaying a portion of the first screen; if the notification is displayed on the touch screen display, activating a handwriting recognition module to recognize a handwriting input to be associated with the application; recognizing the handwriting input received on the touch screen display of the terminal; determining a symbol corresponding to the handwriting input; selecting the application capable of being associated with the symbol; associating the symbol with a function of the application; and processing the associated symbol through the application executed in a background state.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: displaying at least one of the handwriting input and the symbol on the touch screen display, wherein the handwriting input is displayed on a location corresponding to a touched location of the handwriting input if the handwriting input is configured to be displayed, and the symbol is displayed in a preset area of the touch screen display if the symbol is configured to be displayed.