She established herself at national level with back-to-back wins at the South Korean athletics championship from 1998 to 2001.

[2] The following year she reached the podium at the 2006 Asian Games, taking home the bronze medal in the women's hurdles.

[3] Her time of 13.23 seconds in the final was a new South Korean record for the event.

[4] She competed at the 2007 Asian Athletics Championships and won another bronze while Japan's Mami Ishino took the continental title.

[5] Lee improved her national record in 2010, running a time of 13.12 seconds at the Colorful Daegu Pre-Championships Meeting in May.