AI-generated videos mocking independence activists including Yu Gwan-sun and Kim Gu are spreading on social media platforms such as TikTok ahead of the 107th anniversary of the March 1st Independence Movement, sparking controversy. Public outrage is growing as techniques using generative AI technology to ridicule deceased historical figures become increasingly sophisticated.
According to industry sources on February 28, several videos depicting Yu Gwan-sun in degrading scenarios—including passing gas or transforming into a rocket and flying into space—were posted on TikTok. The content was confirmed to have been created using "Sora," OpenAI's text-to-video generation model. Netizens strongly condemned the videos, saying they "crossed the line by disrespecting the deceased for views." The videos have since been deleted.
The mockery of independence activists did not stop at Yu. Posts were discovered featuring phrases such as "what's with that face" over photos of Kim Gu, while images of Yi Wan-yong, a notorious pro-Japanese collaborator, were captioned with praise like "so charismatic." Another post included the phrase "that face is really ugly" on a photo of Ahn Jung-geun.
Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women's University, expressed concern on social media, stating, "It is deeply troubling that content mocking independence activists is flooding the internet ahead of March 1st." Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Hyun-hee also condemned the content as "a clear criminal act that insults the noble history of the independence movement," adding, "I will pursue legal countermeasures against this historical desecration through AI technology abuse."
The challenge lies in the difficulty of imposing actual legal penalties on such malicious content. Under current law, defamation charges apply only to living persons, not the deceased. Experts note that defamation of the dead requires proof of "stating false facts," making it difficult to prosecute content consisting merely of mockery or derogatory language.
Professor Seo emphasized, "The most effective response at present is for netizens to actively report such content to prevent malicious videos from being exposed," adding, "We plan to continue campaigns to protect the honor of our independence activists."