▲ This composite photo shows Johnny Somali, as provided by his YouTube channel. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

YouTuber assault-police

Man arrested for beating American YouTuber accused of kissing 'comfort women' statue

SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- A man in his 20s was arrested Thursday for assaulting an American YouTuber who faced public outrage for his reckless behavior in South Korea, including kissing a "comfort women" statue during livestreams, officials said.

The assailant, also a YouTuber, is accused of punching Johnny Somali, an American YouTuber, in the face and elsewhere on a street in Seoul's southern Songpa district in the morning, resulting in him receiving treatment at a hospital for bruises, according to the police.

Police officers detained the assailant at the scene after being dispatched in response to a report of a commotion.

Some YouTubers and online viewers have threatened to retaliate for his actions. Somali was similarly beaten in Seoul on two occasions last week and a complaint was filed against him on drug and violence accusations.

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