A US YouTuber who caused widespread anger in South Korea with a series of offensive online stunts has been sentenced to six months in prison.
The Seoul Western District Court on Wednesday found Ramsey Khalid Ismael, known online as Johnny Somali, guilty of several charges, including disrupting businesses and sharing fake sexually explicit content.
Prosecutors had asked for a three-year jail term. Ismael was also accused of harassing people at an amusement park, creating disturbances at a convenience store by playing loud music and throwing noodles on a table, and causing similar disruptions on public transport. He was also charged with distributing deepfake videos without consent.
The court said the 25-year-old showed serious disregard for South Korean laws and hurt many people through his livestreamed actions aimed at earning money on YouTube. He was taken into custody immediately after the verdict, as the court considered him a flight risk.
In October 2024, Ismael triggered public outrage after posting a video of himself kissing and performing a lap dance on a statue honoring victims of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery. He later apologized, saying he did not understand the importance of the monument.
Ismael, who had been banned from leaving South Korea during the trial, earlier told reporters he regretted his actions and wanted to apologize to the public.
FP/MI
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