First verdict for YouTuber Johnny Somali over “Statue of Peace” outrage set for April 15
A first trial verdict in South Korea’s case involving American YouTuber Johnny Somali is set to be delivered on April 15. The controversy around him has been loud for months—so loud, honestly, that it’s become the kind of story people bring up in casual conversation, then argue about on the spot.
Misryoum newsroom reported that Judge Park Ji-won, presiding over the Criminal Division 1 at Seoul Western District Court, will hand down the verdict for Somali. He faces charges including obstruction of business and distributing false video materials, under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes.
The case goes back to October 2024, when Somali was taken to trial over alleged disruptions at convenience stores around Mapo-gu, Seoul. Misryoum editorial desk noted that prosecutors said he caused disturbances by playing loud music in stores and spilling instant noodle soup on tables. He’s also accused of carrying foul-smelling bags of fish and approaching pedestrians to create discomfort—then, rather than stopping, allegedly kept going with more incidents like playing music and dancing on public transportation, including buses and subways.
The indictment details didn’t stop there, either. Misryoum analysis indicates he was also accused of interfering with guests riding attractions while livestreaming at Lotte World. And during the trial, additional charges were added: he was charged under the sexual crimes law for creating and distributing obscene videos that combined male and female faces. It’s a lot to fit into one file, and even now, it’s hard to tell where the “stunt” ends and the alleged illegality begins—except, well, that’s basically the court’s job.
At his first trial in March of last year, Misryoum newsroom reported Somali tried to enter the courtroom wearing a red hat with the slogan “Make America Great Again” (MAGA), the campaign slogan of U.S. President Donald Trump, but court rules stopped him. After that trial, he reportedly told reporters, “Korea is a vassal state of the United States,” a remark described as highly offensive.
During the sentencing hearing on February 27, the prosecution requested three years in prison and a fine of 150,000 won for Somali. Misryoum editorial team stated that the request—covering both the alleged disruptions and the video-related accusations—has set the stage for what comes on April 15. The courtroom will decide how much of this becomes punishment, and how much gets dismissed… though from the outside, the anger around the earlier “Statue of Peace” incident still hangs in the air, like you can almost smell it—no, not literally, but you get what I mean.
The first verdict is scheduled to be delivered on April 15, about a year and six months after Somali sparked public outrage in Korea by kissing the ‘Statue of Peace,’ among other incidents. And now, with the judge’s decision approaching, people may not calm down anytime soon—because controversy doesn’t usually wait for court dates, even when it should.
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