What did Johnny Somali do in South Korea? Streamer's controversial actions and supposed charges explored

Ramsey "Johnny Somali" has had quite a wild ride lately. The controversial streamer is currently hosting his first-ever South Korean tour. Much like his other travel antics, he has once again garnered a string of controversies, which has even got the authorities involved. The 24-year-old is reportedly facing some serious charges.

Before delving into the legal cases, let's look at some of his controversial antics in South Korea:

Kissing the Statue of Peace:

The most viral yet questionable of Somali's actions was when he decided to kiss the Statue of Peace in Seoul. The monument holds sentimental value to the locals as it is a homage to the victims of wartime sex slavery.

Naturally, this action has gotten Somali in trouble with the authorities. Earlier this month (November 2024), the streamer was compelled to apologize in front of the public. Speaking about his conduct, he said:

"To all the people in South Korea, I just wanna apologize for what I've done. I didn't wanna hurt you guy's pride this much. You guys are good people. And for the most part, other than Mr. Navy Seal here, I've had a great experience. It was not my intention to hurt you guys. I hope you guys can accept my apology. I'm a young person and I wanna grow as a man."

Causing public disturbance:

The streamer is also known for his disruptive antics in public. His South Korean trip so far has been loaded with such shenanigans. This includes him disrupting a live music show in the streets of Seoul, prompting the participants to protest against his behavior.

Another incident involved him making loud and inappropriate noises via his TTS during his Subway commute. Naturally, the passengers were quite annoyed and he ended up being confronted by the authorities.

Other incidents include Johnny Somali causing a disturbance in a convenience store in South Korea, where he was allegedly drinking alcohol and was heard using offensive slurs toward one of the employees.

Making AI deepfake videos:

Johnny Somali stirred further controversy by sharing an AI deepfake video featuring fellow Korean streamer Bongbong. In the doctored video, the two were seen kissing. This understandably upset Bongbong, who was seen filing a complaint with the police.

Johnny Somali made an AI deepfake video of a Korean streamer (Image via X/@k7bb7)

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What are the charges against Johnny Somali?

Johnny Somali has previously faced jail time during his notorious tour of Japan, where he was taken into custody for causing public disturbances. Currently. the South Korean government has restricted him from leaving the country until ongoing investigations are concluded.

Reports suggest that Johnny Somali has already been charged with public disturbance and, allegedly, drug use. These could land him up to 10 years in prison if found guilty.

Following his antics in the convenience store (as mentioned above), Korea JoongAng Daily reported that the Seoul Western District Prosecutor's Office had indicted the streamer without detention.

The streamer could also face prison time due to his AI deepfake actions. While Bongbong has not pressed any charges, South Korean authorities have the power to impose punishment. According to Reuters, a bill passed on September 26, 2024, stipulates up to seven years in prison and a $22K fine for possessing sexually explicit deepfakes of others.