Yi's works include two literary tendencies. The first tendency is utilization of an allegorical view of Korean society, one that traces the ways in which various lives (recent, historical and in legend) are shaped and governed by dominant ideology and power, including, in particular, the tension between authoritarianism and liberalism (exemplified by "Son of Man" and "Our Twisted Hero" ) and between traditionalism and modernism (exemplified by "The Golden Phoenix" and "The Old Hatter"). The first aspect of this tendency has been described as an emphasis on the adverse consequences of "reckless faith in ideology, belief or theories which people often cling to in the context of history, religion and academic studies". The second tendency is a focus on his internal world, fictionalizing his experience of growing up and the process by which his worldview was formed (exemplified by his epic novel "Border" and the short story "Appointment with My Brother")"." In addition, some of his novels display a particularly high regard for poetry and art.