South Korean Star Son Heung-min's Blackmailer Receives Prison Sentence

A woman who attempted to blackmail the renowned South Korean footballer Son Heung-min by alleging she was pregnant with his child has been sentenced to four years in prison, according to various reports.

Identified by the surname Yang, she managed to extract 300 million won, equivalent to about 200,000 dollars, from Son during the previous year. She achieved this by forwarding him an ultrasound image of a foetus and warning that she would reveal the information publicly.

After spending the money on high-end luxury items and designer products, she and her associate, surnamed Yong, attempted to demand an additional 70 million won from the player now with Los Angeles FC.

Son reported the matter to the authorities, which resulted in their apprehension and formal charges.

The Seoul Central District Court imposed a four-year sentence on Yang, a woman in her twenties, for the blackmail offence, as stated by local television sources.

Her partner in the scheme, Yong, with whom she allegedly shared a romantic involvement, received a two-year sentence for the attempted extortion, according to the Yonhap news agency.

Both individuals have remained in detention since May.

Judge Im Jeong-bin remarked during the hearing that Yang had employed drastic tactics in her effort to damage Son's public image.

"Her actions extended beyond mere threats or financial requests; she actively contacted media outlets and advertising firms, capitalising on Son's prominence as a celebrity," Im explained, citing Yonhap.

The judge further noted that Son endured significant emotional strain due to the incident gaining widespread attention.

The captain of South Korea's national team attended a non-public court session last month to provide witness testimony, as covered by domestic media.

It is still uncertain if Yang, whom reports suggest may have ended the supposed pregnancy, was genuinely expecting Son's child.

"Upon discovering her pregnancy, Yang failed to confirm the father's identity," Judge Im stated.

"While she claimed to believe the child was Son's, her statements were contradictory and thus hard to credit," he continued.

The 33-year-old, previously with Tottenham Hotspur, was recognised in October as the second highest-earning player in Major League Soccer.

Son joined the California-based club in August following what is considered the largest transfer fee in MLS history, valued at around 26 million dollars.