Abroad
US YouTuber Johnny Somali, 25, jailed in South Korea for public stunts & lewd acts
The 25-year-old former live streamer is known for his controversial content.
April 15, 2026, 11:42 AM
U.S. YouTuber Johnny Somali, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, has been sentenced to six months in prison and 20 days of detention by a South Korean court on Apr. 15.
Ismael was also handed a five-year employment ban at institutions related to children, teens and people with disabilities, reported Chosun Biz.
According to The Korea Herald, Ismael was found guilty of public nuisance and distributing AI-generated sexual content.
The 25-year-old former live streamer is known for his controversial content, such as filming himself kissing Seoul's Statue of Peace commemorating World War II's Korean comfort women in October 2024.
He was also known for getting beaten up by a former South Korean Navy Seal.
NEW: South Korean Navy SEAL Punches Controversial Streamer Johnny Somali
— Tony Lane 🇺🇸 (@TonyLaneNV) November 29, 2024
Dalgeun Yu, a former South Korean Navy SEAL, took matters into his own hands after Johnny Somali, a controversial American streamer, gained notoriety for offensive stunts across Asia. Yu, who served in the… pic.twitter.com/epGj4tRhoK
Antics
Ismael had approximately 20,000 YouTube subscribers on his old channel before his suspension, reported Korea JoongAng Daily.
On Oct. 17, 2024, he was reported to the police by a convenience store employee after allegedly causing a commotion, according to the South China Morning Post.
Ismael was indicted in November 2024 without detention.
He was then slapped with a travel ban.
According to Chosun Biz, Ismael also performed lewd dances and engaged in antics using the Japanese military's rising sun flag.
He also shouted the Japanese name “Takeshima” for the Liancourt Rocks, which South Korea calls “Dokdo”.
He was also accused of causing discomfort by carrying a bag of fish, approaching passersby on the street, and creating disturbances on public transport.
Trial
According to Chosun Biz, Ismael appeared in a red "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) hat at the initial trial's first hearing.
On Feb. 27, South Korean prosecutors sought a three-year prison term and a 150,000 won (S$130) fine at his first sentencing hearing.
On Apr. 15, Seoul Western District Court's Judge Park Gee-won sentenced Ismael, who was charged with obstruction of business and distribution of fabricated sexual images under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes.
The trial was initially scheduled for March 2025 but faced delays after South Korean prosecutors added charges following Ismael's distribution of a deepfake video featuring himself and a South Korean female YouTuber, The Korea Herald reported.
Top photo from YouTube and Johnny Somali/X
