A South Korean court has handed a four-year jail sentence to a woman in her 20s who blackmailed football superstar Son Heung-min by falsely claiming she was pregnant with his child. Her accomplice, a man in his 40s, also received a two-year sentence.
False Pregnancy Claim Used to Extort Money
According to Seoul district court findings, the woman approached Son last year, insisting she was carrying his child — despite not knowing whether this was true. She demanded money and threatened to expose the claim publicly if he did not comply.
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She extorted 300 million won (approx. $200,000 / £153,000).
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The money was reportedly spent on luxury and designer items.
Prosecutors argued she had “planned the crime thoroughly,” emphasising that her attempts to portray herself as a victim did not match the facts.
Accomplice Also Sentenced
The woman’s accomplice played an active role by threatening Son at least 15 times in an attempt to secure more money. He was found guilty of attempted blackmail and received a two-year jail term.
After the pair demanded additional money earlier this year, Son reported the matter to police, leading to their arrest.
Judge: Son Suffered ‘Intense Mental Anguish’
The court noted that the pair had exploited Son’s global fame to carry out their scheme. The judge remarked that the footballer appeared to have suffered “intense mental anguish” once the allegations became public.
Son Heung-min: One of Asia’s Biggest Football Icons
Son remains one of Asia’s most celebrated athletes:
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In October, he was named the second-highest-paid player in MLS.
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He joined Los Angeles FC in August from Tottenham Hotspur in the most expensive transfer in MLS history.
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The 33-year-old spent 10 years at Spurs and, in 2022, became the first Asian footballer to win the Premier League Golden Boot.
His popularity in South Korea and across Asia remains immense.
