A Seoul court handed down a six-month prison sentence Wednesday to an American content creator whose disruptive behavior and offensive acts sparked widespread anger throughout South Korea.
Ramsey Khalid Ismael, who goes by Johnny Somali online and calls himself an internet “troll,” was convicted by the Seoul Western District Court on several charges including business interference and creating fake explicit material.
The 25-year-old faced allegations of bothering workers and guests at an entertainment venue, creating chaos in a store by playing loud music and throwing noodles around, causing similar disruptions on public transportation, and sharing deepfake videos without permission. Prosecutors had originally requested a three-year sentence.
The judge stated that Ismael showed “severe” disregard for South Korean laws and offended numerous people through his livestreamed antics designed to earn YouTube money. Officials immediately took him into custody after the ruling, citing concerns he might flee the country.
Last October, Somali triggered nationwide fury when he posted footage of himself kissing and performing inappropriate dances on a memorial dedicated to women who suffered sexual enslavement by Japanese forces during World War II. He subsequently issued an apology, stating he didn’t understand what the monument represented.
Ismael, who had been prohibited from departing South Korea while awaiting trial, previously expressed remorse to local media and said he wanted to apologize to the South Korean people.
