December 9 – A South Korean court has handed prison sentences to two people who tried to blackmail LAFC forward Son Heung-min, bringing an end to a case that has gripped Korean media like a long-running soap opera for months.
The scheme began in June 2024, when a woman in her 20s, identified only as Yang, sent the then-Tottenham captain an ultrasound image and claimed she was carrying his child. Seoul Central District Court found that Son transferred 300 million won (about $204,000) during this first round of extortion. Yang has now been sentenced to four years in prison.
The plot thickened between March and May 2025, when Yang enlisted a man in his 40s, identified as Yong. Prosecutors said the pair attempted to extort another 70 million won by threatening to tell Son’s family and the public about the alleged pregnancy and abortion. This time, Son went to the police, who arrested both suspects in May. Yong received a two-year sentence for attempted blackmail.
Judge Im Jeong-bin said Yang’s story lacked credibility: “After discovering she was pregnant, Yang never confirmed whose child she was pregnant with… her testimony was inconsistent and therefore difficult to accept.”
The court noted the emotional toll on Son. “The victim is a celebrity and vulnerable to crimes, and the defendants used this to take a large sum of money, which makes the crime of an egregious nature,” the judgment read. The judge added that Yang went beyond demands for cash: “She took action, such as informing the media and advertising agencies, exploiting Son’s status as a public figure.”