Controversial YouTuber Johnny Somali, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, could face a ten-year jail term in South Korea as he is being investigated for drug abuse in the country. The incident comes after he sparked a public outrage for kissing a statue that represented Korean women who were victims of sexual slavery during the Japanese occupation of the country.
Sending shockwaves across South Korea, 24-year-old Johnny Somali made inappropriate dance moves in front of Seoul's Statue of Peace in Itaewon. The video that was streamed on October 9 also showed him kissing the statues. The 'Comfort Women' statue stood in honour of thousands of young Korean women who were forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese military in the early decades of the 20th century. Mocking such a sensitive memorial was not taken lightly by the South Koreans.
Johnny Somali's controversial Asian tour
A serial offender, Somali had earlier created a similar row in Japan when he mocked random people at public places including metro trains by talking about the US dropping nuclear bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It had led to Japanese people openly confronting the YouTuber.
In another incident, the American reportedly broke into a hotel under construction and recorded himself repeatedly shouting “Fukushima” to construction workers. According to the Guardian, he was rearrested for filming without permission inside a restaurant in Osaka and playing loud music.
Johnny Somali faces the heat in South Korea
Several unverified Twitter images showed him being pushed and attacked in Seoul for disrespecting the statue. Making things worse, Somali is unable to leave South Korea as he is entangled in a drug-use investigation. If found guilty, he could face up to ten years in prison.
Intimidated by the gravity of the situation, Johnny Somali gave a public apology in Korean language with the help of a translator. Standing next to the statue and bowing as per the Korean culture dictates, Somali reportedly on November 7 said, “I’m a young person, and I want to grow. I made a mistake… I apologize and will no longer talk about or touch the statue.”