He holds the single-season stolen base record in the KBO, with 84, and once hit .393 in a season, second-best all-time.

Lee graduated from Gwangju Jeil High School, where he excelled in baseball,[3] leading his team to the Cheongryonggi championship as a senior.

Lee played only a half-season's worth of games in 1995 due to commitments for military service, which is mandatory for all male South Korean citizens over 18.

He returned to form in 2002–2004, winning two more Golden Glove awards, leading the league in doubles in 2003, and in runs in 2004.

In April 2012, prior to opening day, Lee announced his retirement from baseball; at that point, he was the KBO's oldest active player.

[2] Their son Jung-hoo Lee is an MLB player for the San Francisco Giants, and won the KBO League Rookie of the Year Award in 2017.