Born in Seoul, South Korea, Lily Lee moved to the United States as a child and was raised in Alexandria, Virginia.

In the 1980s, she competed on the national level in the United States, winning the 1987 Eastern Sectionals and qualifying several times for the U.S.

Toward the end of the 1980s, Lee began appearing internationally for South Korea while still living and training in the United States.

She won the bronze medal at the 1989 Golden Spin of Zagreb[2] and competed at six World Championships, achieving her best result, 17th, in 1990.

[3] She received special media attention for being in the same practice group as Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding.