South Korea: Woman jailed for four years for blackmailing Son Heung-Min

A South Korean court has sentenced a woman in her twenties to four years in prison for blackmailing football star Son Heung‑min.

The woman, identified only by her surname, Yang, falsely claimed she was pregnant with Son’s child and used fabricated evidence, including an ultrasound image, to pressure him into paying her.

Son, who currently plays for Los Angeles FC after a decade at Tottenham Hotspur, was forced to hand over 300 million won (about $200,000) before reporting the matter to authorities.

The court revealed that Yang was not acting alone. She conspired with a man surnamed Yong, who made repeated threats to Son in an attempt to extort even more money.

Together, they carried out what prosecutors described as a “thoroughly planned” scheme, targeting Son’s reputation and personal life.

The extorted funds were spent on luxury goods, highlighting the deliberate and exploitative nature of the crime.

During the trial, Yang argued that she was a victim herself, claiming she had been manipulated into participating.

However, the court dismissed her defence, emphasising that she had played an active role in deceiving Son, the former skipper of Tottenham Hotspur, and benefited financially from the blackmail.

Yong was also convicted, with the court noting his involvement in making at least 15 threats against the footballer.

The ruling underscored the seriousness of the offence and the need to protect public figures from such exploitation.

The case has attracted widespread attention in South Korea and internationally, given Son’s global stature as one of Asia’s most successful footballers.