As South Korea approaches the 107th anniversary of the March 1st Independence Movement, a controversy has emerged over AI-generated content that mocks key historical figures. A series of videos and images surfaced on social media, particularly TikTok, depicting Yu Gwan-sun, a revered independence activist, in a demeaning light, including scenes of her farting and transforming into a rocket. Created using the AI model Sora by OpenAI, the content was quickly removed after widespread backlash from users who deemed it disrespectful and an affront to the memory of those who fought for Korea's freedom.

Public outcry has not been limited to social media users. Politicians have also weighed in, with lawmakers like Jeong Hyun-hee of the Democratic Party explicitly condemning the content as a criminal act that insults the sacrifices made by independence fighters. Jeong emphasized the necessity for legal accountability and institutional measures to prevent such occurrences in the future, highlighting the seriousness of disrespecting historical figures and the potential misuse of modern technologies like AI.

In addition to the Yu Gwan-sun incident, mocking posts targeting other independence activists, as well as glorifying pro-Japanese collaborator figures, have also been circulating. Experts in law noted that prosecuting such content is complicated, stressing the importance of community reporting to minimize the visibility of disrespectful posts. This incident raises critical discussions around digital ethics, historical respect, and the impact of emerging technologies on cultural narratives during significant national commemorations.