Johnny Somali arrives late and hungover to South Korean court, pleads guilty to obstruction charges
Controversial streamer Johnny Somali, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, appeared in a South Korean court on March 7, 2025, where he pleaded guilty to several charges, including Obstruction of Business and two violations of the Minor Crimes Act.
However, the court proceedings were delayed after Ismael arrived an hour late, wearing an oversized suit and a "MAGA" hat, which he was asked to remove multiple times.
According to YouTube legal commentator Legal Mindset, neither Ismael nor his lawyer was aware of an additional obstruction charge, leading to a postponement of the next court hearing until April 9.
Prior to the trial, Ismael attempted to livestream the proceedings on the app Parti, risking contempt of court charges. The night before, he claimed to be negotiating a deal to broadcast the hearing, but his erratic behavior continued as he reportedly became heavily intoxicated, eventually vomiting in his roommate's apartment.
Ismael has been a contentious figure in South Korea, known for disruptive livestreams that have sparked backlash from both citizens and politicians. In one of his most notorious incidents, he kissed the Statue of Peace, a monument dedicated to South Korean victims of wartime sexual slavery. His actions led to strong criticism and were even referenced in an October 2024 parliamentary session.
The obstruction of business charge alone carries a potential five-year prison sentence, meaning Ismael could face up to ten years behind bars if convicted on all counts. Beyond the current legal proceedings, he has also been linked to other allegations, including violations of anti-terrorism laws and public nuisance regulations, which could lead to further charges.
Before arriving in South Korea, Ismael was expelled from Japan for similar conduct.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Natalie Reynolds seen distraught outside TikTok HQ after account ban linked to controversial prank video
A video showing content creator Natalie Reynolds in distress outside TikTok's Los Angeles headquarters has gone viral across social platforms. The 26-year-old influencer appeared visibly upset while attempting to communicate through the building's glass doors during a phone call, reportedly seeking reinstatement of her banned account. Reynolds first gained attention in 2022 through popular lip-sync and dance videos before expanding to prank content and collaborative skits with boyfriend Zachary Huelsman, building audiences of 5.6 million YouTube subscribers and 133,000 Instagram followers. ‼️TikToker Natalie Reynolds was banned from TikTok for deceiving a mentally ill homeless woman into jumping into a lake, by promising her $20.00, and then running away when she could not swim. Austin fire dept/paramedics had to pull her out of the water. — i Expose Racists & Pedos (@SeeRacists) June 9, 2025 TikTok is a career 😬 ... according to Natalie Reynolds and it should go with a messed makeup 😂 Note: She got banned after convincing a homeless woman to jump into the lake for $20 then runaway. — Miriam 🫶🇪🇺🫶 (@Polit1cswithM) June 10, 2025 'I can't swim - I can only float' Natalie Reynolds was a famous TikToker with 2.5M Followers - she convinced a homeless person to jump in this river for $20 and then ran away when she started getting in trouble. TikTok later banned her. Days later she was filmed outside… — Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) June 10, 2025 The incident follows recent controversy surrounding Reynolds' May prank video in Austin, where she allegedly offered a homeless woman $20 to jump into Lady Bird Lake despite knowing the individual couldn't swim. According to NY Post reports, emergency services responded after Reynolds and her group left the struggling woman unattended. While the influencer claimed the stunt was part of a "scavenger hunt," the footage showed her walking away as the woman called for help. Reynolds attributes her TikTok ban to professional jealousy from fellow creators, though many online commentators have connected the suspension to backlash from the lake incident. The platform has not publicly commented on its decision. Since the ban, Reynolds has shifted focus to Kick streaming, where she regularly engages with her 33,000 followers. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between controversial content creation and platform moderation policies, particularly regarding potentially harmful pranks. Industry observers note the case exemplifies the challenges influencers face when balancing viral attention with responsible content creation.
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business Recorder
China's Xi urges respect, ‘right track' in call with South Korean counterpart
BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping told South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Tuesday that the two countries should respect each other's core interests and major concerns and ensure ties move forward 'on the right track', China's state media reported. In their first phone call since Lee took office last week, Xi said healthy, stable and continuously deepening China-South Korea relations were conducive to regional and world peace and stability, according to state broadcaster CCTV. China, Latin America trade exceeded $500 billion in 2024 Xi urged the two countries to strengthen exchanges, adhere to the direction of 'friendly neighbours' and jointly safeguard global and regional industrial, supply chains.
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business Recorder
South Korean shares extend rally on post-election hopes, US-China trade talks
SEOUL: Round-up of South Korean financial markets: South Korean shares rose for a fourth straight session on Monday, hitting a near 11-month high on post-election policy hopes, while investor focus was also on the US-China trade talks. The benchmark KOSPI was up 47.58 points, or 1.69%, at 2,859.63, as of 0123 GMT, touching its highest level since July 17, 2024. US President Donald Trump's top aides will meet with their Chinese counterparts in London later in the day for talks aimed at resolving a trade dispute between the world's two largest economies that has kept global markets on edge. Trump and South Korea's new president Lee Jae-myung agreed to work toward a swift tariff deal in their first phone call since Lee was elected this week, Lee's office said on Friday. Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics rose 2.03%, while peer SK Hynix gained 2.67%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution slid 2.23%. Hyundai Motor and sister automaker Kia Corp were up 3.96% and 2.90%, respectively. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings added 0.97%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics rose 0.39%. Of the total 937 traded issues, 696 shares advanced, while 212 declined. Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 244.8 billion won ($180.16 million). The won was quoted at 1,363.5 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.51% lower than its previous close at 1,356.5. In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year treasury bonds lost 0.08 point to 107.18.
