An operating apparatus, which enables a user to manually switch an automatic transmission from a parking position to a neutral position using an emergency release cable, the operating apparatus comprising: the emergency release cable; a lever bracket fixed to a position adjacent to a driver's seat; a handle lever installed in the lever bracket so as to pivot around a pivot axis from a first position to a second position, wherein an end of the emergency release cable is fixed to the handle lever; a guide pin preventing the handle lever from being separated from the lever bracket, and pivotably supporting the handle lever, wherein when the handle lever is pivoted from the first position to the second position, the emergency release cable is pulled to switch the automatic transmission from the parking position to the neutral position, characterized in that it further comprises: a slider having a lock protrusion for fixing the handle lever to the second position, and linearly-movably coupled to the handle lever; and a spring finger fixed to the lever bracket, and engaged with the lock protrusion so as to block the handle lever from returning to the first position from the second position; wherein: when the handle lever is pivoted to the second position, the lock protrusion and the spring finger are engaged to fix the handle lever to the second position, and when a tension exceeding a predetermined magnitude is applied to the emergency release cable after the handle lever is fixed to the second position, the engagement between the lock protrusion and the spring finger is released while the slider is linearly moved in a direction away from the pivot axis. the emergency release cable; a lever bracket fixed to a position adjacent to a driver's seat; a handle lever installed in the lever bracket so as to pivot around a pivot axis from a first position to a second position, wherein an end of the emergency release cable is fixed to the handle lever; a guide pin preventing the handle lever from being separated from the lever bracket, and pivotably supporting the handle lever, wherein when the handle lever is pivoted from the first position to the second position, the emergency release cable is pulled to switch the automatic transmission from the parking position to the neutral position, characterized in that it further comprises: a slider having a lock protrusion for fixing the handle lever to the second position, and linearly-movably coupled to the handle lever; and a spring finger fixed to the lever bracket, and engaged with the lock protrusion so as to block the handle lever from returning to the first position from the second position; a slider having a lock protrusion for fixing the handle lever to the second position, and linearly-movably coupled to the handle lever; and a spring finger fixed to the lever bracket, and engaged with the lock protrusion so as to block the handle lever from returning to the first position from the second position; wherein: when the handle lever is pivoted to the second position, the lock protrusion and the spring finger are engaged to fix the handle lever to the second position, and when a tension exceeding a predetermined magnitude is applied to the emergency release cable after the handle lever is fixed to the second position, the engagement between the lock protrusion and the spring finger is released while the slider is linearly moved in a direction away from the pivot axis. when the handle lever is pivoted to the second position, the lock protrusion and the spring finger are engaged to fix the handle lever to the second position, and when a tension exceeding a predetermined magnitude is applied to the emergency release cable after the handle lever is fixed to the second position, the engagement between the lock protrusion and the spring finger is released while the slider is linearly moved in a direction away from the pivot axis.