{"id":17090,"date":"2026-04-15T15:45:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T15:45:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/newstime\/american-youtuber-is-jailed-for-6-months-in-south-korea-on-public-nuisance-charge\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T15:45:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T15:45:14","slug":"american-youtuber-is-jailed-for-6-months-in-south-korea-on-public-nuisance-charge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/newstime\/american-youtuber-is-jailed-for-6-months-in-south-korea-on-public-nuisance-charge\/","title":{"rendered":"American YouTuber is jailed for 6 months in South Korea on public nuisance charge"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p id=\"anchor-1a0cfa\" class=\"body-graf\">SEOUL, South Korea \u2014 An American livestreamer who enraged <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/south-korea\/runaway-wolf-south-korea-inspires-meme-coin-presidential-concern-rcna273623\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">South Korea <\/a>by kissing a statue honoring women forced into wartime sexual slavery was jailed for six months Wednesday on public nuisance and other charges. <\/p>\n<p><button class=\"styles_subscriptionCTA__LOUeY\" id=\"subscriptionCTA\" type=\"button\"><img src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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\" alt=\"NBC News Icon\" class=\"styles_icon__wRwWv\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"styles_textWrapper__vxvko\">\n<p class=\"styles_text__daaVB styles_textLarge__qlzwu\">Subscribe to read this story ad-free    <\/p>\n<p class=\"styles_text__daaVB\">Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/rockcms\/2026-01\/arrow-f55fa5.svg\" alt=\"arrow\" class=\"styles_arrow__tnruW\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/button><\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-f35dbb\" class=\"body-graf\">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.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-616de3\" class=\"body-graf\">The self-proclaimed internet troll is best known for posting provocative videos on platforms including YouTube and Twitch, several of which have banned him. <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-8a9506\" class=\"body-graf\">During a visit to Seoul in 2024, Somali drew outrage when he posted a clip of himself kissing and making sexual gestures toward a statue commemorating the tens of thousands of Korean women who were forced into sexual slavery by Japanese forces during World War II.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-f2d49d\" class=\"body-graf\">The issue is extremely sensitive in South Korea, a key U.S. ally in Asia that continues to demand an apology from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/asia\/iran-war-trump-japan-prime-minister-takaichi-white-house-rcna264247\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Japan<\/a>. A handful of those who were enslaved, who have also been referred to euphemistically as \u201ccomfort women,\u201d are still alive.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-a5ec24\" class=\"body-graf\">Somali later apologized, saying he was unaware of the statue\u2019s significance, and the clip was removed. But he continued to stir controversy in South Korea, with local media reporting he had been beaten up multiple times.<\/p>\n<section class=\"inline-video inline-video--in-body inline-video--vertical-video\" data-testid=\"inline-video\" id=\"anchor-1416c9\">\n<div class=\"inline-video__background\">\n<div class=\"inline-video__player\">\n<div class=\"styles_gridStackWrapper__Z_AMc styles_verticalVideoContainer__AndXW vertical-video-container inline-article-vertical-video paused\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-testid=\"gamma-video-player\">\n<div class=\"info-layer styles_infoLayer__3khlf\">\n<p><span class=\"styles_caret__Aqe2z icon icon-play\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-testid=\"caret\"\/><span data-testid=\"card-duration\">01:29<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"styles_controlContainer__XmNB0 styles_inlineVideo__unIwH\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"Video controls\">\n<p class=\"styles_title__0GjQf styles_inlineVideoInitial__c2yet\">How influencer impersonation scams target online users<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"styles_gradientOverlay__6My_d\"\/><\/p>\n<p><span aria-label=\"Elapsed time 00:00\">00:00<\/span><span aria-label=\"Remaining time 00:00\">00:00<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p id=\"anchor-be9fd9\" class=\"body-graf\">Somali was indicted over a number of disruptive acts including an allegation that he caused a \u201ccommotion\u201d at a convenience store in Seoul. According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.koreaherald.com\/article\/10439086\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Korea Herald<\/a>, he admitted to all charges at his first trial hearing last March.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-60e5be\" class=\"body-graf\">In addition to the prison term, Somali was sentenced to an additional 20 days in detention and is barred from working with children and people with disabilities for five years. <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-39e7bd\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cThe defendant repeatedly committed crimes against unspecified members of the public to generate profit via YouTube and distributed the content in disregard of Korean law,\u201d the court said.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-6eed4c\" class=\"body-graf\">Local media reported that Somali apologized for his actions before entering court Wednesday, and that his mother had submitted a petition for leniency last month. Prosecutors had sought three years in prison, but Somali received a reduced sentence due to the \u201cabsence of severe harm to victims,\u201d the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.koreaherald.com\/article\/10717779\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Herald said<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-37e9dc\" class=\"body-graf\">While on trial last year, Somali attempted to enter the courtroom wearing a red \u201cMAGA\u201d hat associated with supporters of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/donald-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">President Donald Trump<\/a> but was stopped. <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-b82109\" class=\"body-graf\">During the incident, he said that \u201cKorea is a vassal state of the United States,\u201d drawing backlash, according to local reports.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-193e9f\" class=\"body-graf\">Four months later, he was seen holding a Japanese Rising Sun flag, which is viewed in South Korea as a symbol of Japanese imperialism, and making remarks that \u201cJapan should reoccupy Korea.\u201d He also proclaimed that \u201cDokdo belongs to Japan,\u201d in reference to disputed islands that both countries claim as their own, local reports said. <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-755356\" class=\"body-graf\">Somali has repeatedly drawn controversy while traveling outside the U.S., including during a trip to Japan where he taunted subway commuters about the U.S. atomic bombings of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/asia\/80-years-later-hiroshima-bombing-survivors-warn-new-nuclear-warfare-rcna220177\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hiroshima<\/a> and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/think\/opinion\/surviving-nuclear-bomb-nagasaki-75-years-ago-showed-me-nuclear-ncna1236148\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Nagasaki<\/a> during World War II, which killed and maimed hundreds of thousands of people.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-1711f9\" class=\"endmark body-graf\"><em>Stella Kim reported from Seoul, South Korea, and Jay Ganglani from Hong Kong.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/asia\/american-youtuber-jailed-6-months-south-korea-public-nuisance-charge-rcna331891\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SEOUL, South Korea \u2014 An American livestreamer who enraged South Korea by kissing a statue honoring women forced into wartime<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17091,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/newstime\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17090"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/newstime\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/newstime\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/newstime\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/newstime\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17090"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/newstime\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17090\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/newstime\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17091"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/newstime\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17090"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/newstime\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17090"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo4.dedicatedhost247.com\/newstime\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17090"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}