US streamer 'Johnny Somali' sentenced to 6 months in South Korea for offensive acts at comfort women statue

Seoul. American livestreamer Johnny Somali has been sentenced to 6 months in prison in South Korea for offensive behavior toward a statue honoring World War II comfort women. He was charged with public nuisance after videos surfaced in November 2024 showing him kissing the statue and performing inappropriate dances during his visit to Korea.

25-year-old Ismail Ramsey Khalid, known on social media as 'Johnny Somali,' is notorious for his controversial and provocative content. A Seoul court found Khalid guilty on Wednesday of various charges, including public nuisance and the distribution of sexually explicit deepfake material.

In its verdict, the court stated that Khalid repeatedly committed crimes against the public, flouting Korean law to earn money through YouTube. Although prosecutors had requested a three-year prison sentence, the judge reduced it to six months, noting that he did not cause serious physical harm to the victims.

Upon his release from prison, he is prohibited from working in organizations related to minors and people with disabilities. During World War II, approximately 200,000 women across Asia were forced into sexual slavery for Japanese soldiers, known as 'comfort women.'

Statues commemorating these victims across South Korea are viewed with immense respect and sensitivity. Khalid apologized in November, claiming he did not understand the significance of the statues, but many have dismissed his apology as insincere.

While under investigation in Korea, he frequently challenged local residents to confrontations. He was involved in playing obscene videos on public transport, vandalizing shops, and harassing people. Videos of locals chasing and punching him also went viral on social media.

This is not Khalid's first controversy. He previously caused similar issues in Japan and Israel. In 2023, he mocked the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings in Japan and was fined for disturbing a restaurant by playing loud music.

Similarly, in early 2024, he was arrested in Israel for making derogatory comments toward a female police officer. Due to his actions, he has already been banned from several streaming platforms.