[1] Lee enjoyed playing various sports from a young age and began focusing on basketball in high school.

He and his teammates, as well as their counterparts from traditional athletic rivals Korea University, enjoyed a level of popularity similar to that of idol singers and A-list actors/actresses due to their skills and good looks.

Together with his Yonsei teammates Moon Kyung-eun and Woo Ji-won and Korea University's Hyun Joo-yup and Chun Hee-chul, among others, they were collectively dubbed "Oppa Troupe" (오빠부대) by the media.

[15] In January 2022, he announced his resignation and his assistant Lee Kyu-sup was named acting head coach for the remainder of the season.

His resignation was announced in light of the team's poor results and two players being charged with drunk driving in the space of nine months.