Lee graduated from Moanalua High School in 1977 and obtained a bachelor's degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1987, double majoring in political science and physical education.

He was also head coach of the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center's Resident Athlete Program for taekwondo from 1988–1993.

[5] In 2004, he was removed from the position of taekwondo coach for the USA team due to compete at the Summer Olympics in Athens.

[citation needed] He was a founding member of the United States Taekwondo Committee (USTC), which was created in August 2007, and had served as Secretary General of the organization.

[citation needed] Lee accepted and relocated to Beijing, China, for the one year period leading up to the event.