A parking assistance apparatus includes a sensor unit configured to sense vehicle surroundings; an interface unit configured to receive at least one of brake operation input information, accelerator operation input information, and steering operation input information; a display unit configured to display a graphic image for an automatic parking function; and a processor configured to set a target parking space based on information about the vehicle surroundings sensed by the sensor unit; design a parking path for directing a vehicle to the set target parking space; and perform the automatic parking function by performing control such that the vehicle follows the parking path, wherein, when it is detected that there is an operation input of the user through the interface unit, the processor performs the automatic parking function by reflecting the operation input of the user or releases the automatic parking function.