A South Korean court has sentenced a woman to four years in prison in the Son Heung-min blackmail case. The woman, in her 20s, and her accomplice, a man in his 40s, were found guilty of extorting money from the football star by falsely claiming she was pregnant with his child.
According to local media, the woman approached Son Heung-min last year and said she was carrying his baby—even though she did not know if it was true. She demanded 300 million won (about $200,000) and threatened to go public if he refused. Son paid the sum, but the pair later asked for more money this year. That’s when he reported them to the police.
The court heard that the woman spent the extorted money on luxury and designer goods. Prosecutors told the judge she claimed the payment was “compensation” and painted herself as a victim. “But her claims do not fully match the facts,” they said, adding that she had planned the crime “thoroughly.”
Her accomplice made 15 separate threats to Son to pressure him into paying. For his role in the attempted blackmail, the court gave him a two-year prison sentence.
The judge emphasized that both defendants exploited Son’s fame to carry out their scheme. He noted that Son suffered “intense mental anguish,” especially after the story spread in the media.
Son Heung-min remains one of Asia’s most celebrated footballers. In August 2025, he left Tottenham Hotspur after 10 years and joined Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer (MLS). The move set a new record as the most expensive transfer in MLS history.
Just two months later, Forbes named him the second-highest-paid player in MLS. His global popularity, especially in South Korea and across Asia, makes him a frequent target for fraud and harassment.
Back in 2022, while still with Tottenham, Son became the first Asian player to win the Premier League Golden Boot. He shared the award that season after scoring 23 goals.
The court’s strong sentence in the Son Heung-min blackmail case sends a clear message: using false claims to exploit public figures will result in serious consequences.
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