Case against streamer included widely-criticised video where he made sexually suggestive gestures at a wartime memorial
American YouTuber Johnny Somali has been sentenced to six months in prison by a South Korean court over a series of disruptive and offensive online videos.
Among the incidents that drew widespread public anger was a video Somali uploaded in October 2024 that showed him kissing and making sexually suggestive gestures beside the Statue of Peace in the Changdong History and Culture Park in Seoul, which memorialises Korean women forced into sexual slavery by Japanese occupying forces before and during World War II.
Prosecutors described his conduct as part of a pattern of “nuisance streaming,” in which Somali filmed provocative stunts in public for online audiences. The 25-year-old, whose legal name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, had been indicted in 2024 and barred from leaving the country as proceedings unfolded.
The Seoul Western District Court sentenced him to six months in prison, as well as 20 days of detention, on Wednesday, according to The Korea Herald.
The court also barred him from working at institutions involving children, adolescents, and people with disabilities for five years. Somali, who had been free throughout the trial, was taken into custody following the ruling over concerns that he is a flight risk.
“The defendant repeatedly committed crimes against unspecified members of the public to generate profit via YouTube and distributed the content in disregard of Korean law,” the court said, adding that the evidence supported all charges.
Somali apologised for the Statue of Peace video after facing a backlash, and removed the clip. “I want to apologise to Koreans. I didn’t understand the significance of the statue,” he said in a YouTube video at the time, adding that his only intention was to entertain his American audience.
He was also convicted over a series of additional offences, including the distribution of sexually explicit deepfake content, which he denied, and obstruction of business through repeated disturbances.
These included blasting music and spilling cup noodle broth at a convenience store in Seoul’s Mapo district in October 2024, as well as disrupting passengers on buses and subway trains by playing loud music and dancing, according to The Korea Times.
Further charges were brought after he live-streamed a disturbance at Lotte World amusement park in the Songpa District that blocked passengers from boarding rides.
Somali was found guilty on all eight charges that were brought against him and handcuffed in court immediately after the verdict was delivered.
Prosecutors had sought a three-year prison sentence and a fine of 150,000 won (£75), but the judges handed down a lower sentence, noting the “absence of severe harm to victims”.
Before Wednesday’s hearing, Somali told reporters he was remorseful and wanted to apologise to the people of Korea. The Independent
