Lee took part in the 1992 IAAF World Cup and came in fifth place. He won the gold medal in the 800 m at the 1993 East Asian Games and went on to win consecutive gold medals at the Asian Games. He represented South Korea on the global stage three times: first at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics where he finished third in his 800 m heat, then he competed at the 1993 IAAF World Indoor Championships where he was sixth in the semi-finals, and finally he took part in the 1993 World Championships in Athletics later that year. In 1995 he was suspended for two years after a doping violation.