Born in Goseong, South Gyeongsang, Lee studied law at Seoul National University.
[1] After passing the Civil Service Examination in 1971, he started his career at the Economic Planning Board (now as the Ministry of Economy and Finance).
[2] He served as the mayor of Geoje, Deputy Governor of South Gyeongsang, Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs[1] and Minister of Interior.
[2] Lee had received an honorary degree from Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages in Uzbekistan.
[2] On 8 March 2020, he was elected as the President of the Open Democratic Party.