American YouTuber Faces 10-Year Sentence in South Korea for Kissing Statue Honoring WWII Victims
American YouTuber and streamer Johnny Somali, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, is facing potential jail time in South Korea after a controversial video surfaced showing him kissing and posing with a statue dedicated to Korean women who were victims of sexual slavery during Japan’s occupation of Korea.
The incident occurred during a visit to the Changdong History and Culture Park in Seoul, where Somali filmed himself interacting with the Statue of Peace, a memorial in Itaewon that honors the tens of thousands of Korean women, euphemistically known as "comfort women," who were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military from 1910 to 1945. In the video, posted on October 9, Somali is seen kissing the statue and performing a dance in front of the memorial, an act that sparked outrage among South Koreans and others.
The act was seen as deeply disrespectful, especially given the statue's significant cultural and historical importance. The backlash was swift and widespread, with many condemning Somali’s actions as a grave lack of cultural sensitivity. While Somali initially intended the video as entertainment for his American audience, he quickly realized the severity of his mistake.
In an apology video posted by YouTube channel Jcompany on November 7, Somali expressed regret for his actions, acknowledging his lack of understanding regarding the statue’s significance. “I want to apologize to Koreans. I didn’t understand the significance of the statue… I made a mistake, and I think when you make a mistake in life, you need to own up to it,” he said. He also promised not to make any further references to or interactions with the statue.
Despite the apology, the incident has led to serious legal repercussions for Somali. Reports suggest that if convicted of his actions, the YouTuber could face up to 10 years in prison.
In addition to the statue incident, Somali has also been indicted for causing a commotion at a South Korean convenience store in October. According to officials, Somali confronted a store employee after being told not to drink alcohol inside the store, and allegedly made sexist remarks. He is currently under a travel ban, which is preventing him from leaving South Korea while the case is ongoing.
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