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Johnny Somali’s trial in South Korea highlights rising concern over ‘nuisance influencers’

South Koreans are calling for authorities to severely punish these attention-seeking influencers and bar them from entering the country

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Johnny Somali is seen disturbing passengers on a Seoul subway. Photo: Instagram/johnnysomalia
SCMP’s Asia desk
The trial of an American content creator whose disruptive and culturally insensitive acts sparked outrage in South Korea has fuelled calls for sterner responses to these so-called nuisance influencers.
Johnny Somali, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, has been barred from leaving South Korea and faces seven charges, including obstruction of business and violations of the Minor Offences Act, according to local media.

Ismael’s earlier charges were relatively minor but at his second hearing on May 16, he faced two serious charges of creating pornographic deepfakes, each carrying a maximum penalty of 10½ years.

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The 24-year-old pleaded guilty to the five minor charges and not guilty to the sex charges. His next trial hearing is scheduled for August 13.

Among the actions he has been charged with are brandishing a dead fish on the subway, kissing a statue commemorating Korean World War II sex slaves as well as holding up a Japanese “Rising Sun” flag and calling the disputed Liancourt Rocks by their Japanese name of Takeshima.

The sex charges have to do with AI-generated deepfake pornographic videos featuring Ismael and a female South Korean live-streamer.

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