A backlight unit having a supplementary lamp for a smooth starting operation includes multiple light-emitting lamps arranged in one direction on a cover bottom; an inverter printed circuit board (PCB) provided at one rear side or both rear sides of the cover bottom; a first hole provided at a predetermined portion of the inverter PCB; a supplementary lamp provided in the first hole of the inverter PCB; and a second hole provided at a predetermined portion of the cover bottom corresponding to the supplementary lamp.