Charles Lee was born in 1948 in Seoul, Korea, where he attended middle school and high school. He began to show an affinity for the arts at the age of seven, and won his first honor for artistic creativity while still in high school, being awarded a gold medal in an international art competition. After this achievement, he went on to major in art at the university level, enjoying his first personal exhibition at age of twenty-three.

In the 1970's, Lee began to exhibit his work in various Hong Kong and Tokyo group shows. Towards the end of that decade, Lee presented his second one-man show in Seoul, in addition to having his works exhibited at the Tae Yoon and Man Kang galleries. During the 1980's, many of Lee's works made their way to the United States, and by the early 1990's, Lee made his way to the U.S. as well. Lee continues to create art and show the highest standards of talent and versatility, operating from his home base in Florida where he resides with his wife and children.