Negative active material for rechargeable lithium battery, and rechargeable lithium battery including the same

A negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery comprising a carbon component having a ratio (I1360/I1620) of a peak intensity (I1360) at 1360 cm−1 relative to a peak intensity (I1620) at 1620 cm−1 ranging from about 1 to about 4.5 measured by Raman spectroscopy, wherein the carbon component is a composite carbon material comprising:

• carbon core including crystalline carbon;
• and
• surface-damaged carbon having defects on the surface of the carbon core including crystalline carbon and including amorphous carbon,
• wherein the core carbon comprises natural graphite, artificial graphite, or a combination thereof.