Lee early received first two losses to former WBC Light Flyweight champion Netrnoi Sor Vorasingh and future WBA Light Flyweight champion Kim Hwan-jin after making his pro debut in 1977.
In 1980, he moved up in weight to super flyweight but unsuccessfully challenged Rafael Orono for the vacant WBC Super Flyweight title in Caracas, Venezuela, losing by a highly controversial split decision.
In 1981, Lee moved up to bantamweight after beating former WBC Light Flyweight champion Kim Sung-jun, and challenged Lupe Pintor for the WBC Bantamweight title in Los Angeles, United States on June 3, 1982.
Lee was given another chance to fight for the world title when in December 1986, IBF Super Bantamweight champion Kim Ji-won announced his retirement as a professional boxer.
After beating former WBA Bantamweight champion Julian Solís in March 1988, Lee seized his last chance for the world title, challenging two-division world champion and future hall of famer Daniel Zaragoza for the WBC Super Bantamweight title in Yeosu, South Korea on May 29, 1988.