Disclosed is an external terminal for an electric energy storage device, which is coupled to an upper end of a cylindrical metal case to cap the metal case and has a hollow formed at a center thereof so that a safety valve is installed therein, wherein the metal case includes an outer part exposed to the outside in an erect state in a normal direction and an inner part positioned below the outer part, and wherein the inner part includes a first surface adjacent to the hollow and a second surface stepped higher than the first surface (112a) toward the outer part (111).