South Korea is, indeed, a highly stable society with a strong sense of social cohesion, and violence or even outright nonconformity is rarely tolerated. Crime rates are low, and there is a deeply ingrained cultural value placed on honor, respect, and order. The fact that Johnny Somali has pushed these cultural boundaries so blatantly speaks volumes about his misunderstanding of the environment he’s interacting with—and his disregard for how seriously his actions are perceived.

Violence is not the norm in South Korea. The social fabric of the country is tightly knit, and people tend to resolve disputes through more controlled and structured means (whether that’s through the legal system, social ostracism, or collective intervention). However, when public order and respect for cultural and historical symbols are repeatedly disrespected—especially in such an in-your-face, defiant way—it can lead to a situation where, if the authorities do not act swiftly and decisively, there may be an escalation to violence. This is particularly true when people feel that they have no other recourse.

When Johnny disrespects the statues of comfort women, he's not just disrespecting art or history—he’s attacking something that is deeply personal for many Koreans, especially the survivors and their families. The pain of that period in history, which is still felt today, isn’t something that can be dismissed lightly. South Koreans carry this legacy with them, and anyone who openly mocks or diminishes that suffering will naturally provoke a very strong emotional reaction. What Johnny might not realize is that his repeated disregard for these powerful symbols feels like an attack on national pride—on the very identity of the people he is antagonizing.

Koreans are fed up. This isn’t just about someone being rude or acting like a tourist. This is about someone deliberately trampling over their culture, ignoring centuries of suffering borne by their ancestors, and causing disturbance in public spaces without any apparent remorse. The idea that an outsider can come in and wreak havoc without any immediate consequences or repercussions challenges the social order that South Koreans have worked hard to build. This resistance to foreign interference in their society is a deeply embedded aspect of South Korean identity, and in this case, Johnny Somali's reckless actions have clearly crossed a line.

If the authorities fail to hold Johnny accountable, there is a genuine risk that individuals or groups might feel the need to take matters into their own hands. While , Koreans are not generally violent people, the combination of historical trauma, personal offense, and a sense of injustice over Johnny’s behavior could push the situation into dangerous territory. When people feel that justice isn’t being served, and that someone is allowed to repeatedly disrupt the peace and disrespect core elements of their culture, it creates a pressure that can sometimes boil over. Vigilantism, unfortunately, becomes a potential response when a society feels powerless to stop an outsider’s disrespect.

That’s why the legal response to Johnny’s actions is critical. He has broken multiple laws—from public harassment to public indecency, to what you might call cultural desecration—and he’s done so repeatedly, with little regard for the consequences. Whether it’s his disruptions at Lotte World, his public harassment of workers, or his disrespect of sacred symbols, his actions have gone beyond simple disrespect or bad behavior—they have become dangerous provocations that threaten to unravel the fabric of social harmony.