A South Korean court has sentenced American YouTuber Johnny Somali to six months in prison for public nuisance and other charges.
Ismael Ramsey Khalid, 25, was convicted on Wednesday by a Seoul court. The charges follow a November 2024 incident where the streamer filmed himself kissing and performing lap dances on a statue representing World War II sex slaves.
According to bbc.co.uk, the court also found Khalid guilty of distributing sexual deepfakes. Prosecutors had originally sought a three-year prison term for the American national.
"The defendant repeatedly committed crimes against unspecified members of the public to generate profit via YouTube and distributed the content in disregard of Korean law," the court stated, as reported by South Korean media.
Judges handed down the lower six-month sentence after noting an "absence of severe harm to victims," according to The Korea Herald.
A history of international disruption
Khalid has been barred from leaving South Korea since his November arrest. The court also prohibited him from working with organizations that serve people with disabilities or minors once he is released.
Before his arrival in Seoul, Khalid faced legal issues in several other countries. He was detained in Tel Aviv, Israel, earlier in 2024 for making inappropriate remarks to a female police officer.
During a 2023 trip to Japan, the streamer taunted locals with comments regarding the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He was also fined 200,000 yen ($1,400) for disrupting a restaurant with loud music.
The statue in Seoul is part of a series of monuments installed by activists to honor "comfort women" forced into sexual slavery by Japanese soldiers during the war. These monuments often trigger diplomatic friction between Seoul and Tokyo.
Khalid previously apologized in November 2024, claiming he "didn't understand the significance of the statue." However, many social media users expressed skepticism regarding his sincerity.
While investigations were underway, Khalid reportedly challenged local residents to physical confrontations. Social media footage shows him being chased and punched in the streets of South Korea.
