Provided is a precursor for the preparation of a lithium transition metal oxide that is used for the preparation of a lithium transition metal oxide as a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery, through a reaction with a lithium-containing compound, wherein the precursor contains two or more transition metals, and sulfate ion (SO4)-containing salt ions derived from a transition metal salt for the preparation of the precursor have a content of 0.1 to 0.7% by weight, based on the total weight of the precursor.