American YouTuber is jailed for 6 months in South Korea on public nuisance charge

An American livestreamer who enraged South Korea by kissing a statue honoring women forced into wartime sexual slavery was jailed for six months Wednesday on public nuisance and other charges.

SEOUL, South Korea — An American livestreamer who enraged South Korea by kissing a statue honoring women forced into wartime sexual slavery was jailed for six months Wednesday on public nuisance and other charges.

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Johnny Somali, 25, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, had been barred from leaving South Korea since his indictment in 2024. On Wednesday, he was detained immediately after his sentencing on a range of offenses that also included distributing sexual deepfakes, according to the Seoul Western District Court.

The self-proclaimed internet troll is best known for posting provocative videos on platforms including YouTube and Twitch, several of which have banned him.