Disclosed herein is a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery, including lithium transition metal oxide, where the lithium transition metal oxide is coated with carbon particles and a polymer resin at a surface thereof, and the polymer resin is a substance inactivated by an electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery and an organic solvent and has a melting point of at least 80° C. A lithium secondary battery having the disclosed cathode active material has advantages of improving rate properties and high temperature stability, so as to provide excellent cell characteristics.