American YouTuber Johnny Somali jailed in Korea for monument kiss

A 25-year-old American social-media streamer who drew public scrutiny after kissing a Korean monument to women forced into sexual slavery during World War II has been sentenced to six months in jail overseas, according to reports.

Johnny Somali, a former YouTuber whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, was convicted by The Seoul Western District Court on charges including obstructing a business in connection with the October 2024 incident, local news media reported on April 15. The New York Times reported a local official confirmed the conviction.

South Korean authorities arrested Somali on multiple charges, including obstruction of business and violations of minor public order laws, after he kissed the bronze “Statue of Peace,” a monument in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul.

The statue, installed in 2011 by a South Korean civic group, is of a woman sitting on a chair with an empty chair next to her.

"He also provoked public outrage by causing disturbances on buses, subways and an amusement park, vandalizing a convenience store in Seoul's Mapo district and playing obscene videos in public," Yonhap News Agensy reported.

In addition to jail time, the court barred Somali from employment at institutions related to children and adolescents for five years. According to the outlet, Somali had been free prior to the conviction but was taken into custody after the sentence was handed down.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.