The Seoul Central District Court today sentenced a woman surnamed Yang to four years in prison for blackmailing renowned South Korean footballer Son Heung-min. Authorities convicted Yang of extorting 300 million won ($200,000) from the athlete by falsely claiming she carried his child. Her accomplice, surnamed Yong, received a two-year sentence for attempted blackmail.
Prosecutors revealed that Yang approached Son last year with a fetal ultrasound image and demanded payment to keep the alleged pregnancy secret. She threatened to expose the claims publicly if he refused. Son complied initially, but Yang later conspired with Yong, her romantic partner, to seek an additional 70 million won. This prompted Son to report the scheme to police, leading to the pair's arrest in May.
Investigators found that Yang spent the extorted funds on luxury goods and designer items. During the trial, Yang denied the charges, while Yong confessed. Judge Im Jeong-bin presided over the case and noted that Yang took extreme measures to tarnish Son's reputation, including contacting media outlets and advertising agencies. The judge emphasized that Son endured significant psychological distress from the ordeal.
"Yang's claims about the child's paternity were inconsistent and unverified," stated Judge Im Jeong-bin in the ruling. "Her actions exploited Son's fame and caused him intense mental anguish."
Son, 33, testified as a witness in a closed session last month. The Los Angeles FC forward, formerly of Tottenham Hotspur, is one of Asia's top soccer talents and holds immense popularity in South Korea.