He embarked on his lifelong journey of social work and ministry by serving as pastor at a leper treatment center in Daegu.

When the devastating Korean War (1950–1953) resulted in increased number of war-orphans and the handicapped, Reverend Rhee was among the few who were devoted to helping them.

Reverend Rhee ministered to the children's spiritual and emotional needs, as well as raising funds, eliciting donations and recruiting volunteer teachers and doctors.

In recognition for the decades of invaluable contributions made by Rhee, South Korean president Park Chung Hee personally awarded him the 5.16 Minjok National Medal (5·16 민족상 교육부문 본상) in May 1969.

Reverend Rhee discovered decades-old burial sites of Korean laborers deep in the jungles of Tinian and repatriated the remains to a national cemetery in Korea (National Cemetery for Overseas Koreans 국립망향의 동산 태평양 사이판 티니안 전몰 무명한국인묘).