Embodiments of the inventive concepts described herein relate to a positive electrode active material for lithium secondary battery, and more particularly, relate to a positive electrode active material for lithium secondary battery including a core portion in which concentrations of nickel, manganese, and cobalt have gradients in a direction from the center to the surface or concentrations of nickel, manganese, and cobalt are constant; a concentration gradient portion which is formed on the outside of the core portion and in which concentrations of nickel, manganese, and cobalt have gradients; and a shell portion which is formed on the outside of the concentration gradient portion and in which concentrations of nickel, manganese, and cobalt are constant. In the positive electrode active material according to the inventive concept, the amount of residual lithium is decreased although the concentration of nickel is high, and thus the positive electrode active material exhibits excellent cycle-life characteristics and charge and discharge characteristics, has a stabilized crystal structure while having a high capacity, and is structurally stabilized even when being used at a high voltage.