American livestreamer Johnny Somali has been sentenced to six months in prison by a court in South Korea following a series of controversial incidents during his stay in the country.

The 25-year-old, known for producing provocative online content, was convicted on multiple charges including public nuisance and the distribution of sexual deepfakes.

He was first charged by authorities in Seoul in November 2024 after he shared a video of himself engaging in inappropriate conduct involving a statue dedicated to victims of World War II sexual slavery.

Following the incident, he was barred from leaving South Korea while investigations continued, with prosecutors initially pushing for a three-year prison sentence before the court handed down a reduced term.

In its ruling, the court said Johnny Somali repeatedly created disruptive content involving unsuspecting members of the public in pursuit of online profit, showing disregard for local laws.

Although the judges noted there was no severe harm caused to specific victims, they imposed additional restrictions, including a ban on working with minors and vulnerable groups after his release.

The case has renewed attention in South Korea on “comfort women” memorials, which honour an estimated 200,000 women forced into sexual slavery during World War II.

His actions, alongside previous incidents reported in countries including Japan and Israel, have attracted global criticism, despite a public apology in which he claimed he did not understand the significance of the statue involved.

The ruling adds to growing scrutiny of online creators whose content crosses legal and cultural boundaries in pursuit of viral attention and monetisation.