American YouTuber Sentenced to 6 Months in Prison by Korean Court for Kissing 'Comfort Women' Statue, Causing Controversy
An American YouTuber, Johnny Somali (real name Ramsey Khalid Ismael), has been sentenced to six months in prison by a Seoul court for public disturbance and obstruction of business after posting a video of himself kissing a 'comfort women' statue, which sparked public outrage. Somali had previously gained notoriety for provocative videos in South Korea and Japan. Although he removed the video and apologized, public criticism remained severe. Korean authorities had indicted him in 2024 and banned him from leaving the country.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 14:56
- 🔍 Collected: April 15, 2026 at 15:31 (35 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 17:30 (1h 58m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Seoul, 15th, comprehensive foreign wire report) An American YouTuber, Johnny Somali, who filmed himself kissing a statue commemorating 'comfort women' from the Korean War era, sparking public outrage, was today sentenced to six months in prison by a Seoul court.
25-year-old Somali (Johnny Somali) gained notoriety several years ago for a series of provocative videos filmed in South Korea and Japan, uploaded to platforms like YouTube and Twitch.
Korean authorities indicted Somali, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, in 2024 for disturbing public order and obstructing business, and banned him from leaving the country.
A representative from the Seoul Western District Court told Agence France-Presse: 'The court has sentenced him to six months in prison.'
In October 2024, Somali uploaded a video showing him kissing a statue commemorating Korean women who were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese occupation forces before and during World War II, known in Japan as 'comfort women,' and performing provocative dance moves.
This incident sparked strong public backlash and condemnation, and the video was later removed. Somali later apologized, stating that he 'did not know the importance of this statue.'
However, public sentiment towards him remained harsh. According to reports at the time, some angry Koreans had chased and even assaulted him.
In addition, in 2023, Somali also caused shock in Japanese society when he mocked subway commuters in Japan and joked about the atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima in 1945. (Compiler: Hsu Rui-cheng) 1150415
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(Central News Agency, Seoul, 15th, comprehensive foreign wire report) An American YouTuber, Johnny Somali, who filmed himself kissing a statue commemorating 'comfort women' from the Korean War era, sparking public outrage, was today sentenced to six months in prison by a Seoul court.
25-year-old Somali (Johnny Somali) gained notoriety several years ago for a series of provocative videos filmed in South Korea and Japan, uploaded to platforms like YouTube and Twitch.
Korean authorities indicted Somali, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, in 2024 for disturbing public order and obstructing business, and banned him from leaving the country.
A representative from the Seoul Western District Court told Agence France-Presse: 'The court has sentenced him to six months in prison.'
In October 2024, Somali uploaded a video showing him kissing a statue commemorating Korean women who were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese occupation forces before and during World War II, known in Japan as 'comfort women,' and performing provocative dance moves.
This incident sparked strong public backlash and condemnation, and the video was later removed. Somali later apologized, stating that he 'did not know the importance of this statue.'
However, public sentiment towards him remained harsh. According to reports at the time, some angry Koreans had chased and even assaulted him.
In addition, in 2023, Somali also caused shock in Japanese society when he mocked subway commuters in Japan and joked about the atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima in 1945. (Compiler: Hsu Rui-cheng) 1150415
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.
FAQ
Why was Johnny Somali sentenced?
He was sentenced for disturbing public order and obstructing business by posting a video of himself kissing a 'comfort women' statue in South Korea.
Did Johnny Somali have a history of controversial behavior?
Yes, he had previously posted provocative videos in South Korea and Japan, mocked subway commuters in Japan, and joked about the atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima.