AI era revives Lee Yeong-hee's spirit: 'Restore critical intellect that doubts and questions'

In an era dominated by fake news, confirmation bias, and artificial intelligence providing ready answers, a forum in Suwon, South Korea, revisited the spirit of Lee Yeong-hee, a prominent intellectual and journalist known for his critical thinking. The gathering, themed 'Connecting Eras and Generations: Re-engraving Lee Yeong-hee's Questions Today,' aimed to explore how his legacy of challenging established ideologies with facts and reason remains relevant.

Lee Yeong-hee, who passed away in 2010, confronted the rigid Cold War ideology of the 1970s and 80s. Today, in 2026, amidst an overwhelming flood of information that makes discerning truth difficult, his sharp critical intellect is seen as a pressing necessity. The forum, moderated by Kim Hyo-soon, chairperson of the Lee Yeong-hee Foundation, featured discussions with former Han Gil Sa editor Kim Hak-min, Gyeonggi Teachers' Union vice-chairperson Mo Jeong-ha, and youth activist Jeong Yong-jun.

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Autism of thought is suicide.

A central theme was Lee Yeong-hee's meaning for the current youth generation. While his struggle against military dictatorship using Western media data might seem like a distant historical account, youth panelist Jeong Yong-jun argued that the real loss is not the person but the 'attitude of questioning.' "In a society accustomed only to getting answers right, people hesitate to express different thoughts," Jeong observed. "If information monopoly was the problem in the past, information overload is the issue now. People become trapped in the 'certainty' of believing only their own views are correct by selectively consuming information they like."

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AI literacy is now required beyond media literacy.

Jeong quoted Lee Yeong-hee's book 'Dialogue,' stating, "Autism of thought is suicide." He urged a recovery of 'critical intellect that doubts and questions' to stop the uncritical acceptance of abundant information. Mo Jeong-ha, from the Gyeonggi Teachers' Union, highlighted declining literacy and thinking skills among young people, noting that "AI literacy is now required beyond media literacy." She expressed concern that students' over-reliance on AI for assignments and daily concerns is rapidly diminishing their ability to think independently. Mo stressed that Lee Yeong-hee's lesson is not about memorizing knowledge but about the 'spirit of inquiry' to uncover truth.

The forum also shed light on lesser-known aspects of Lee Yeong-hee's life, including his time in prison and the support he received from 'prison guards.' Kim Hak-min recounted the role of democratic prison guards who risked their lives to connect Lee with the outside world, delivering writings and books. "In an era where the dictatorial regime sought not only to imprison intellectuals physically but also to ideologically re-educate them, these hidden helpers inside the prison walls sustained them," Kim said. "Their dedication deserves to be remembered and evaluated as an important page in the history of the democratization movement."

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What I desire is only ‘truth.’ Truth is visible only from a balanced perspective.

Lee Yeong-hee's lifelong pursuit, "What I desire is only 'truth.' Truth is visible only from a balanced perspective," resonates powerfully in today's polarized Korean society. A young attendee remarked, "In a world where all information conclusions are already available online, it's easy to lose the drive to ask proactively. Nevertheless, Lee Yeong-hee's courage to break through prejudice and move toward truth seems to be a new milestone for today's youth."

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Nevertheless, Lee Yeong-hee's courage to break through prejudice and move toward truth seems to be a new milestone for today's youth.