Disrespectful Streamer Johnny Somali May Face 29 Years in Korean Prison

Johnny Somali, an IRL streamer, is in serious legal trouble in South Korea. Known for pushing boundaries in countries with high levels of trust, his antics have finally caught up with him. After previous incidents in Japan and Israel, his actions in Korea may lead to a prison sentence of up to 29 years.

Somali’s typical approach involves traveling to countries known for their tolerance. He then attempts to provoke reactions for online content. When confronted with consequences, he often plays the victim. In the past, he has fled from his problems, trying to outrun any punishments.

High-Trust Societies and Provocative Content

Somali seeks out nations famous for being trusting and kind. He pushes the limits, seemingly believing he can get away with anything. This involves acting as a burden to society until authorities intervene. Then, he claims innocence and complains about unfair treatment. He has tested these limits in Japan and Israel, eventually fleeing both countries. In Japan, he was beaten and jailed for over three months. In Israel, police detained him until he fled to avoid further arrest.

A Summary of the Korean Antics

Upon arriving in Korea, Somali immediately began disrespecting the local culture. His actions included harassing women and interrupting a concert by going on stage. He also bought a fish, left it in the sun to rot, and then paraded it around on public transportation. He threw food and screamed inside a 7-Eleven. When an elderly clerk asked him to stop, he cursed at her. This incident is now a major reason for his legal troubles. Another serious incident involved the Comfort Woman statues. He groped them, poured baby oil on them, and danced on them. These actions sparked outrage and led to online communities hunting him.

The Comfort Woman Statue Incident

Comfort Woman statues represent a sensitive historical issue. These statues commemorate women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II. Somali’s actions showed a profound lack of respect. He groped the statues, poured baby oil on them, and danced on them. His insensitivity towards this painful history ignited public anger. For more context, you can learn more about the Comfort Woman statues.

First Police Encounter

Somali’s initial interaction with the police was relatively calm. He feigned ignorance and tried to act innocent. “I didn’t do anything,” he claimed. “I never insulted anybody.” Despite the police warning him, he disregarded their advice. This demonstrated his unwillingness to take the situation seriously.

The Bounty and Public Harassment

Korean online communities placed a bounty on Somali, reportedly raising over $7,000. People began showing up at his streams. They reported his location to the police and confronted him directly. In one encounter, a person said, “Police will come because police will come.” Somali responded, “You’re a stalker.” The tension was clearly escalating.

The First Assault

The first physical attack occurred when a person sucker-punched Somali. His last words before the attack were, “We’re going to have a great night.” Afterward, people chased after the attacker, retrieving Somali’s phone. This incident highlighted the growing hostility towards him.

Gino’s Role

Gino, identified as Somali’s accomplice, has also faced scrutiny. He had a viral clip of verbally harassing Korean women. In the clip, he made offensive comments, demonstrating a clear lack of respect. Their apparent goal was to exploit the kindness of Japanese and Korean people.

Second Assault and Police Questioning

A second assault followed shortly after. This time, the police interrogated, searched, and drug-tested Somali. He allegedly tested positive for THC. Drug charges are serious in Korea, unlike in many US states where cannabis is legal.

YouTube Bans

YouTube banned Somali from both of his channels. He also faces bans on Twitch and Kick, leaving him with Rumble as his last platform.

Deepfake Allegations

Somali is accused of creating deepfake videos involving a popular Korean creator. He allegedly claimed she was his girlfriend. Creating deepfakes is illegal in Korea. The creator is reportedly suing him. These allegations could result in up to seven years in prison.

Korean Media Attention

Korean media has covered Somali’s actions extensively. He is now known as a “Golden Goblin” in Korea. This term refers to a creature that drops rewards when defeated. One Korean news report described him as someone who came to Korea to make clickbait videos, but is now being used by Korean streamers to generate views. This has sparked a debate about vigilante justice. One Korean news segment stated, “With Somali now banned from leaving Korea and with charges leveled against the American, the future of the infamous prankster seems uncertain.”

Plan to Flee Korea

Somali and his viewers discussed plans to flee the country. They suggested taking a cab to a train station outside the city. From there, he could take a train to a coastal city and catch a flight. The absurdity of the plan was evident. Given Korea’s geography and increased surveillance, escape seemed unlikely. One person in his chat even said he might get more viewers if he preformed a terrorist attack.

Streamer Defeated

Somali seemed defeated as he realized his options were dwindling. His behavior was finally catching up with him. It became clear that people should not harass others for money and attention.

The Mocking Response

Somali released a sarcastic response video to the Korean public and media. He denied assault and claimed to love the Korean police. He said, “Try to find me, I dare you.” He also stated, “If I could take it back, I won’t.” These statements could be used against him in court.

Pizza Box Capture

Somali was found shortly after releasing the video. In a situation reminiscent of Andrew Tate’s capture, authorities used a pizza box to track him down. The pizza box came from the only 24-hour pizza place in the area. His arrogance ultimately led to his capture.

The Third Assault

Somali experienced a third assault, this time in front of police officers. He cried out, “Don’t touch me!” The person who assaulted him became known as a veteran. He received praise and was put in a five-star hotel.

7-Eleven Charge and Gino’s Escape

Somali now faces charges for obstructing business at the 7-Eleven. Meanwhile, Gino has fled to Arizona.

Press Conference and Lawsuits

Korean streamers held a press conference. They filed police reports and lawsuits against Somali.

List of Charges

The charges against Somali include:

Convenience store obstruction
Testing positive for THC
Investigation for assault
Deepfake incident

Potential Prison Time

Somali could face significant prison time:

5 years for THC
7 years for business obstruction
7 years for deepfake
10 years for assault

This could add up to a potential sentence of 29 years.

The “Sincere” Apology

Somali issued a sarcastic apology that aired on Korean news. The apology was awkward. He said he didn’t know about the statue. The apology was arranged to fix the actions of black people in Korea. His lack of sincerity was evident.

Original English Apology

Here is a portion of Somali’s original apology:

“I want to apologize to the Korean people. I was not aware of the significance of the statue. I was trying to get, you know what I mean, it was just entertainment for my audience. We’re from America, we really don’t know much about the Comfort Woman or much about the statue where we’re from. So, when I saw this statue, I came upon it on my stream, at first, I really didn’t even know what it was.”

His claims of ignorance seem disingenuous. He had previously expressed similar sentiments after realizing he was in trouble in Japan.

Passport Revocation

The US could revoke Somali’s passport if he is arrested for a felony in Korea. This could end his career as a travel nuisance streamer.

Irony and Stupidity

It is ironic that Somali destroyed his career for internet attention. Most of his viewers were rooting for his downfall. It’s an unbelievably stupid story.