The South Korean posted a six-under 66 at the notoriously breezy Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course on Friday as she chases her first LPGA title since winning the 2017 Women's Scottish Open.
"Wind is blowing more than I expected this morning, but still better than yesterday afternoon," Lee told reporters. "Pretty similar the direction as well, so it wasn't that hard to play for me I think."
Though the wind didn't prevent Lee from making birdies on three of the four par-fives and wasn't as strong as in the first round, it was a factor.
She sits at 11-under 133 after two rounds, one shot ahead of Yu Liu, who is looking to become only the second Chinese player to win the tournament since its inception in 2014.
Auston Kim of the United States made eagle on the par-five eighth hole and made her only bogey on the ninth before settling for pars until a birdie on the par-five 18th. Her 68 put her two strokes behind Lee for third in the standings.
A Lim Kim (67), Ayaka Furue (69) and Weiwei Zhang (71) are tied for fourth at seven-under 137 and four strokes off the lead.
Robyn Choi, the sole Australian in the field, is at three under for the tournament, in a seven-way tie for 16th position after she went round in 70.
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