Streamer Johnny Somali is facing a long time in prison with forced labor as his South Korean trial is wrapping up.
Back in 2024, after being arrested on trips to Japan and Israel, Johnny Somali, real name Ramsey Khalid Ismael, traveled to South Korea in the next chapter of his streaming career.
Just like with his experiences in other countries, the American was arrested after several problematic incidents, including causing chaos in a 7-Eleven, disrupting a bus, blasting North Korean propaganda, and more.
While Ismael pleaded guilty to quite a few offenses, he desperately tried to get Deepfake charges dismissed after allegedly distributing AI videos featuring Korean creators.
On February 27, 2026, Somali returned to court to make closing arguments, which have seemingly landed him in even more hot water.
Johnny Somali reportedly offends judge after blaming South Korean legal system
According to YouTuber and lawyer Legal Mindset, Somali issued an apology in which he claimed to be “held captive” in Korea for a year and a half.
“I did some foolish things under the influence of alcohol, and I realize the consequences. I sincerely apologize for this,” he said. “Having been born and raised in the United States, I did not realize how serious the consequences of these actions, which would not be illegal in the United States, could be in Korea.”
Somali then reportedly took issue with the deepfake charges, noting how another Korean streamer, Bongbong, shared the same videos.
“The law is unfair, since the police didn’t do anything when I tried to report Bongbong, and I’m asking for the law to apply it fairly,” he pleaded. “I’m still young, and I want to see my family and go home. Please show me leniency.”
Legal Mindset claims that the judge was baffled by this, and wasn’t having any of this argument. The prosecution then followed up by recommending some serious punishments against the streamer.
The prosecutor recommended three years in prison with labor, a maximum fine of 150,000 won (just over $100 USD), and that he is placed on the sex offender registry, which may even impact him once he returns to America and failing to register in the US could result in more consequences.
He is set to be sentenced during his next hearing on April 15 after the judge refused his request to be sentenced quickly.
This case comes as streamers across the globe have been facing major punishments for their antics on live broadcasts.
Notably, Vitaly spent nearly 300 days behind bars in the Philippines after antagonizing residents, stealing, making unwanted advances toward a security guard, and attempting to grab his weapon.
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