A film-shaped coating layer including at least one lithium ion conductive compound having a band gap of 5.5 eV to 10 eV formed on the surface of a core including a lithium composite metal oxide to a thickness at which dielectric breakdown does not occur according to types of the lithium ion conductive compound and the lithium composite metal oxide under charge and discharge conditions. Thereby, an oxidation/reduction reaction is suppressed by blocking the movement of electrons at an interface between an active material and an electrolyte solution by the coating layer which surrounds the surface of particles and has lithium ion conductivity, and, as a result, a positive electrode active material for a secondary battery, which may improve energy density of an electrode and life characteristics of a battery, and a secondary battery including the same are provided.