Latest news with #JohnnySomali
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Johnny Somali's trial in South Korea highlights rising concern over ‘nuisance influencers'
The trial of an American content creator whose disruptive and culturally insensitive acts sparked outrage in South Korea has fuelled calls for sterner responses to these so-called nuisance influencers. Johnny Somali, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, has been barred from leaving South Korea and faces seven charges, including obstruction of business and violations of the Minor Offences Act, according to local media. Ismael's earlier charges were relatively minor but at his second hearing on May 16, he faced two serious charges of creating pornographic deepfakes, each carrying a maximum penalty of 10½ years. The 24-year-old pleaded guilty to the five minor charges and not guilty to the sex charges. His next trial hearing is scheduled for August 13. Among the actions he has been charged with are brandishing a dead fish on the subway, kissing a statue commemorating Korean World War II sex slaves as well as holding up a Japanese 'Rising Sun' flag and calling the disputed Liancourt Rocks by their Japanese name of Takeshima. The sex charges have to do with AI-generated deepfake pornographic videos featuring Ismael and a female South Korean live-streamer.
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
‘Johnny Somali' trial raises the question: How should Korea handle 'nuisance influencers'?
Calls grow for stern response to foreign creators who come to mock and harass As he arrived for his second trial hearing at the Seoul Western District Court on May 16, American YouTuber 'Johnny Somali' briefly turned to reporters, smiling and sticking out his tongue. The 24-year-old streamer, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, has been barred from leaving South Korea and is being tried on three charges, including obstruction of business and violations of minor public order laws. Ismael represents a new kind of content creator — one that South Korea is confronting for the first time as the country increasingly attracts YouTube-driven tourism and attention-seeking influencers. Nuisance influencers, as CNN called them, deliberately stir up trouble in public to generate views and online visibility. Trouble for clicks Ismael arrived in South Korea around October last year. His disruptive behavior here, including playing loud music and obscene videos in public and livestreaming himself vandalizing a convenience store, quickly drew attention online. However, the act that sparked the most public outrage occurred on Oct. 9. On that day, he uploaded a video of himself kissing the Statue of Peace in Itaewon, central Seoul, and performing a lewd dance in front of it. The statue commemorates the victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery during World War II — a painful and enduring wound in Korea's collective memory, stemming from the country's colonialization by Japan from 1910 to 1945. He appeared to have discovered one of the most potent triggers of public outrage in South Korea: the nation's historical trauma with Japan. In another video, he held up the 'Rising Sun' flag — a symbol widely associated with Japanese imperialism — and referred to Dokdo, a group of rocky islets in South Korea's easternmost waters that are at the center of a territorial dispute with Japan, calling them 'Takeshima,' the name used by Japan to assert sovereignty over the area. While these incidents brought him nationwide attention, it was his actions at the Lotte World amusement park, a convenience store, and on public transportation — including subways and buses — that led to criminal charges of business obstruction and violations of public order laws. He is also accused of producing and distributing a deepfake video in which the face of a Korean female streamer was digitally manipulated onto footage that appeared to show her kissing him. Just as Ismael's trial began in March, South Korea saw the emergence of another YouTuber with a similar approach. American YouTuber 'Ice Poseidon' came under fire that same month for a livestream in Busan where he and his companions shouted in public, kicked trash and mocked Korean food, saying, 'Kimchi is disgusting.' While riding in a taxi, he also spoke Korean in an exaggerated, mocking tone, seemingly to ridicule the elderly driver. How to respond? As public frustration grows over disruptive foreign content creators in South Korea, online users are calling for a boycott of controversial streamers whose offensive behavior appears to be rewarded with attention — and ad revenue. 'Many people keep watching, commenting, and even subscribing while criticizing them. But that attention is exactly what feeds YouTubers like Somali,' one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). 'People should stop giving them any attention, and immigration authorities should prevent them from entering Korea.' As of May 28, Ice Poseidon, the streamer who sparked outrage in Busan, had 695,000 subscribers on YouTube. Johnny Somali's YouTube channel has been suspended, making it difficult to determine his current following. At the same time, South Koreans are calling for the authorities to respond sternly in Ismael's case to establish a precedent for dealing with similar incidents in the future. While Ismael was eventually prosecuted, though without physical detention, some people say the initial response from South Korean law enforcement was too lenient, allowing him to persist in harassing locals and disturbing public order. 'I hope a fair and firm ruling is delivered in Johnny Somali's case to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future,' said Seo Kyoung-duk, a liberal arts professor at Sungshin Women's University known for his efforts to promote Korean culture abroad. 'A strong punishment should be imposed to set an example,' he wrote on Facebook. In response to an inquiry from The Korea Herald, an official from the Korea Immigration Service reiterated the general principle that, under Article 46 of the Immigration Control Act, a foreign national may be subject to deportation if their actions are deemed harmful to national interests or public safety. 'A comprehensive review of specific facts, including whether any laws were violated, is necessary before making a determination,' the official added. Ismael's third trial hearing is scheduled for Aug. 13. If convicted and sentenced to prison, he would have to serve his term in a local prison. Separately, immigration authorities could review whether to impose a deportation order and a reentry ban, according to legal experts.
Hindustan Times
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Why is Johnny Somali facing 31-year prison sentence in South Korea? Full list of charges explained
Johnny Somali, the popular streamer whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, is under legal fire in South Korea with a new sex crime charge that could potentially land him up to 31 years in prison. This latest accusation adds to the growing list of legal troubles surrounding the American content creator, whose provocative behaviour while streaming overseas has frequently attracted controversy and scrutiny from authorities. Also Read: Meteorologist Mark Johnson exits News 5 Cleveland: What really happened? Previously banned from Japan and Israel, the streamer visited South Korea in 2024, where he displayed provocative behaviour as he harassed local people, disrupted businesses and challenged other streamers only to provoke them. He even got knocked out by a former Korean Navy SEAL officer during one of his antics, while the officer was fined for assault. His woes began with allegations that he distributed a deepfake video showing him kissing popular Korean streamer BongBong. According to Legal Mindset, a YouTube lawyer, a second deepfake charge has now been filed against Somali, possibly involving other prominent Korean figures with whom he had previously clashed online. In South Korea, the distribution of deepfake videos is treated as a sex crime, and each count results in 10.5 years in prison, as reported by The Express Tribune. Also Read: Karoline Leavitt gets brutally mocked for 'Carla Hayden inappropriate books' remark Johnny Somali has already pleaded guilty on one count of Obstruction of Business, which carries 5 years alone and was charged for the same count a second time. Thus, adding up to his prior charges, he currently faces a possible 31 years of sentence in prison if found guilty. In addition to the deepfake charges, Johnny Somali is facing a series of serious allegations, including threats to spread HIV, promoting North Korean propaganda, and breaching anti-terrorism laws. These claims have yet to result in formal charges, but they remain under active investigation by South Korean authorities.
Express Tribune
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Johnny Somali faces 31 years in South Korea after new deepfake sex crime charge
Streamer Johnny Somali, real name Ramsey Khalid Ismael, could face up to 31 years in prison in South Korea following a new sex crime charge reported on May 8, 2025. The charge adds to a growing list of legal issues for the American content creator, whose controversial behaviour abroad has repeatedly drawn legal scrutiny. Ismael, who previously streamed in Japan and Israel, travelled to South Korea in 2024, where his disruptive broadcasts included harassing locals, interrupting businesses, and provoking other streamers. One notable incident led to him being knocked out by a former Korean Navy SEAL, who was later fined for the assault. Ismael was initially charged for allegedly distributing a deepfake video depicting himself kissing popular Korean streamer BongBong. Legal Mindset, a YouTube lawyer and commentator, reported that a second deepfake charge has now been filed, likely involving additional Korean figures with whom Ismael had online altercations. In South Korea, distributing deepfakes is considered a sex crime, with each count carrying a maximum penalty of 10.5 years. Combined with a guilty plea to one count of Obstruction of Business—which carries a maximum sentence of five years—Ismael now faces up to 31 years behind bars if convicted on all charges. He also faces another pending charge under the same statute. Additional allegations against Ismael, including threats to spread HIV, promoting North Korean propaganda, and violating anti-terrorism laws, remain under investigation. As of now, these claims have not resulted in formal charges. The legal proceedings continue as authorities evaluate further actions in response to his activities in South Korea.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Former South Korean Special Forces YouTuber Fined Dalgeun Yu for Assaulting Controversial American Streamer Johnny Somali
A former elite soldier from South Korea's Underwater Demolition Team (UDT/SEAL), now a prominent YouTuber, has been fined by the South Korean judicial system after publicly assaulting notorious American streamer Johnny Somali. The incident, which was caught on video and rapidly went viral, has reignited national debates about vigilante justice, the responsibilities of online content creators, and the legal consequences of public disorder. The streamer at the center of the controversy, Ramsey Khalid Ismael, known online as Johnny Somali, rose to infamy in South Korea throughout 2024 due to a consistent pattern of disruptive and culturally offensive behavior. His livestreams, broadcast primarily on TikTok and YouTube, featured a range of inflammatory stunts. Many of these were considered deeply disrespectful by South Korean citizens and authorities. Notable incidents included: Dancing and filming inappropriately at the Statue of Peace, a national memorial commemorating victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery Causing disturbances inside convenience stores, including intentionally littering and mocking employees on camera Delaying public transportation by boarding trains with cameras and intentionally interfering with passengers Yelling racial and nationalist slurs in public spaces while livestreaming These actions quickly drew public ire. Many Korean citizens labeled him as a provocateur seeking attention through antagonism and cultural disrespect. As his notoriety grew, so did local efforts to interfere with his broadcasts. Citizens began 'stream sniping' him, locating and disrupting his live streams in real time. In October 2024, YouTuber Dalgeun Yu, a former member of South Korea's elite Navy Special Forces, identified Johnny Somali's location, confronted him in public, and struck him with a single powerful punch. The video, filmed and uploaded by Yu himself, shows Somali collapsing immediately upon impact. Yu later posted to his Instagram, stating: 'I just did what I had to do as a Korean citizen.' The footage generated intense public debate. Many South Koreans lauded Yu as a patriotic figure who physically defended national dignity. Others, including legal experts, expressed concern over vigilante actions being glorified on social media platforms. Despite widespread support, South Korean law does not allow for physical violence, even against individuals who are widely disliked or viewed as cultural aggressors. Under South Korea's Criminal Act, Articles 257 and 260, intentionally causing bodily harm is punishable by imprisonment or fines, regardless of the motive or provocation. Yu was fined 1.5 million won (approximately $1,100) in early 2025. However, Yu claims that the total legal costs, including potential civil liabilities and court fees, could climb to 10 million won (approximately $7,300). He has since turned to his YouTube and Instagram followers, requesting financial support through PayPal donations to offset the penalty. 'Please support me in this fight. I stood up for our country and now I'm paying the price,' Yu wrote in a March 2025 post. Legal analyst and YouTuber Legal Mindset, who interviewed Yu in 2024, clarified that the current fine is 1.5 million Korean won. No additional charges, such as assault with intent to maim, were pursued. The funds from the fine will go to the South Korean government, not to Somali, as compensation. The incident has divided public opinion both domestically and internationally. On Korean web portals, such as Naver, and forums like DC Inside, users flooded threads with support for Yu. Many called him a true patriot and a modern-day soldier protecting national honor. Conversely, some legal scholars and human rights advocates warned that normalizing vigilante justice could lead to dangerous precedents. Public figures or citizens might take the law into their own hands without due process. International coverage of the story has highlighted a cultural clash. In Korea, respect, decorum, and legal structure are paramount, while Western platforms reward livestreamers who generate shock and controversy for virality. While Yu faces a fine and no jail time, Johnny Somali's legal issues have only intensified. The streamer has pled guilty to several charges brought against him in South Korea and is currently awaiting sentencing. Public nuisance Obstruction of business Creating and distributing deepfake content Sexual harassment of a minor Spreading false information regarding HIV transmission Broadcasting prohibited North Korean propaganda Violations of the National Security Law and Anti-Terrorism Act South Korean prosecutors have characterized Somali's behavior as malicious, targeted, and designed to provoke civil unrest. They are reportedly pushing for a multi-year prison sentence or permanent deportation following the conclusion of his trial. His case has raised broader questions about immigration policy, freedom of expression, and how to regulate foreign digital creators operating within sovereign nations. The clash between Dalgeun Yu and Johnny Somali represents more than just a viral video or a fine. It illustrates a growing tension in the digital age where online provocateurs weaponize attention in foreign countries, and local citizens sometimes respond with physical retaliation. South Korea's justice system has chosen to uphold its legal principles by issuing a fine to Yu despite the overwhelming public support he received. Somali, meanwhile, faces an uncertain future as the courts weigh the full scale of his violations. The case serves as a cautionary tale for all digital creators. Cultural disrespect, even if profitable online, can provoke not just backlash but real-world legal consequences. The post Former South Korean Special Forces YouTuber Fined Dalgeun Yu for Assaulting Controversial American Streamer Johnny Somali appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More.
