Smiling Restored Images of Patriot Yu Gwan-sun and Kim Gu via AI (Image from YouTube channel ‘AI Memory Restoration Studio’)
SEOUL, Aug. 6 (Korea Bizwire) — In a striking blend of technology and remembrance, AI-generated videos are breathing new life into Korea’s long-deceased independence fighters, captivating millions across social media platforms.
From a smiling Yu Gwan-sun biting into a watermelon by a mountain stream to a tearful Yun Dong-ju quietly gazing into the distance, the vivid portrayals are reshaping how younger generations engage with national history.
The viral videos, created by independent YouTubers and digital artists using AI restoration tools, transform black-and-white portraits of historical figures into lifelike color animations.
One video by the channel “Ai 기억복원소” (AI Memory Restoration Lab), which shows a cheerful Yu Gwan-sun walking out of a prison mugshot, has garnered over 5.2 million views since April.
Other clips feature iconic patriots like Kim Gu and Yun Bong-gil smiling under a fluttering Korean flag or struggling through hardship with only sparse prison meals for sustenance.
Smiling AI-Restored Images of Patriot Yun Bong-gil and Martyr Yu Gwan-sun (Image from YouTube channel ‘Memory Workshop’ and Instagram account ‘sol__lism’)
Another popular post from the Instagram account “sol__lism” imagined the independence heroes enjoying a summer vacation, grinning in modern-day attire and sitting by a stream.
The creators say their motivation is not commercial, but rooted in historical reverence. “I started this project because I thought I could create something more natural and meaningful,” said Jung Sung-hoon, the creator behind Ai 기억복원소, in a written interview. “The process is slow and difficult, but the audience’s heartfelt reactions keep me going.”
Public institutions have joined the trend. The National Museum of Korea is currently exhibiting AI-enhanced color portraits of five independence fighters, and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs collaborated with Binggrae last year to launch an AI-driven campaign that digitally dressed 87 martyrs in traditional hanbok.
Supporters say the use of deepfake-style AI to humanize historical figures offers a powerful new mode of public education. “This is a positive use of immersive AI,” said Go Sam-seok, an AI studies professor at Dongguk University. “It helps preserve damaged materials while allowing a wider audience to emotionally connect with them.”
But experts also warn of potential misuse. Go cautioned against distorting history through fabricated gestures or quotes, especially in the politically sensitive realm of modern Korean history.
Still, for now, the digital rebirths have struck a national chord. As one commenter wrote beneath a clip of imagined liberation day joy: “This must be how happy they were. I teared up watching.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
