Asmongold praises South Korea’s harsh punishment for Johnny Somali as streamer awaits sentencing

Twitch streamer Asmongold approves of South Korea’s intended legal punishment for Johnny Somali as the broadcaster awaits sentencing on multiple charges.

Johnny Somali, real name Ramsey Khalid Ismael, has become an infamous online figure thanks to his divisive live streams, where he broadcasts himself traveling abroad and harassing local residents in countries like Israel, Japan and South Korea.

In the past, Somali was arrested and fined 200,000 yen (around $1,358) for broadcasting loudly in a restaurant in Japan — and now, he’s taken his antics to South Korea, where he is currently awaiting sentencing on several charges.

On March 7, 2025, a hungover Johnny Somali appeared in court and pled guilty to Obstruction of Business and two counts of violating the minor crimes act. He’s also facing yet another Obstruction of Business charge, but hasn’t pled guilty to it, yet.

An Obstruction of Business charge can carry a maximum penalty of five years in jail — meaning it’s possible that Somali could spend a decade behind bars, depending on how he’s sentenced.

Asmongold praises Korea for punishing Johnny Somali as “example” to nuisance streamers

While he awaits another trial for April 9, netizens have been buzzing about what this could mean for Somali’s future, and fellow streamer Asmongold believes it could set an “example” for other “nuisance” broadcasters looking to wreak havoc abroad.

“It is crazy, it’s a lot,” he began. “Is it really fair that he goes to jail for 10 years because of this? Not really, but at the same time, I don’t really have a lot of sympathy either. The guy made an entire career out of harassing people and being a public disturbance.

“In a way, he’s the one that’s gonna go to jail for a long time, but they’re doing this to send a message to other people to not do it. It makes him an example. …Him going to jail for 10 years is a much better incentive than him getting deported.

“I think it’s a very good thing that they’re punishing him a lot, because he’s the example that other people will use for not going to Korea and acting a fool.”

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Somali isn’t the only streamer who has come under fire for their antics while traveling abroad. In February 2025, several broadcasters traveled to Japan, such as Ice Poseidon, who was confronted by multiple police officers after nabbing some oranges off of someone’s tree and eating them.

And years prior, other foreign streamers caused mayhem in Japan, such as YouTuber ‘Fidias’ who sparked the ire of netizens for dodging train and bus fare in an attempt to travel across the country without spending a single cent (or, in his case, yen).