American YouTuber Johnny Somali speaks to reporters as he arrives at the Seoul Western District Court in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. CHOI JAE-KOO / AP
An American YouTuber who caused outrage for filming himself kissing a statue commemorating Korean wartime sex slaves has been sentenced to six months in prison for public nuisance and other offenses, a court in Seoul said on Wednesday, April 15.
Johnny Somali, 25, gained notoriety several years ago for recording himself doing a series of provocative stunts in South Korea and Japan, and streaming them on platforms such as YouTube and Twitch.
South Korean authorities indicted Somali, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, in 2024 on public order violations and obstruction of business, and banned him from leaving the country.
"The court has sentenced him to six months in prison," a representative of the Seoul Western District Court told Agence France-Presse (AFP) when asked about Somali's case on Wednesday.
