The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a cathode active material for a secondary battery, the method comprising the steps of: preparing a lithium complex transition metal oxide; and forming a coating portion on the surface of the lithium complex transition metal oxide particle by mixing the lithium complex transition metal oxide and a metal borate compound and thermally treating the mixture. The cathode active material of the present invention, fabricated in such a method, comprises: a lithium complex transition metal oxide particle; and a coating portion formed on the surface of the lithium complex transition metal oxide particle, wherein the coating portion includes lithium-metal (Li-metal) borate.