Controversial YouTuber Faces Travel Ban In Korea

The controversial streamer Johnny Somali, who recently got assaulted by a civilian in Korea after desecrating a comfort woman memorial, is facing graver consequences for his actions.

Somali, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, is notorious for committing outrageous acts for views and had gotten himself in trouble in Japan previously. He has committed many disrespectful and offensive acts during his travel to Korea as well.

His antics, all livestreamed by Somali himself, have ticked off Korean citizens majorly. According to latest reports, the South Korean police have intensified their investigation into the YouTuber for obstruction of business and suspected drug use. He is also facing a travel ban which prevents him from leaving South Korea until the investigation is over.

The police investigation is primarily focused on an incident that happened at a convenience store at Mapo-gu on October 17. The YouTuber livestreamed himself dumping noodles on a table after an employee stopped him from drinking inside the store. When other employees intervened, Somali reportedly used abusive and vulgar language with them.

Some of his other disrespectful actions included playing pornographic sounds inside a subway train, which eventually got him kicked out of there. He also uploaded a video of himself desecrating the Statue of Peace at Itaewon, a memorial for the Korean women who were forced into sexual slavery during the Japanese colonial rule of Korea. This incident was even taken up during the National Assembly’s annual audit of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family on Wednesday, October 30.

In another instance, Somali tried to provoke passers-by by displaying the Japanese rising sun flag in public. In Korea, the flag is widely considered offensive for its ties with Imperial Japan. The YouTuber has also mocked South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol during a live broadcast by flipping off his photo.

Meanwhile, Somali was physically confronted by a Korean man on a live broadcast, and he ended up sustaining injuries. You can read more about it here.