Woman handed four-year sentence for blackmailing footballer Son Heung-min

In Seoul, a woman named Yang was sentenced to four years in prison for blackmailing footballer Son Heung-min in 2024. Yang extorted 300 million won (£153,000) from the South Korean star by sending him an ultrasound photo and falsely claiming he was the father of the baby. She demanded money to remain silent about the alleged child. The court found Yang guilty of extortion. A co-conspirator in the blackmail scheme received a two-year sentence.

A South Korean court sentenced a woman in her 20s to four years in prison for blackmailing football star Son Heung-min. The woman, along with an accomplice in his 40s who received a two-year sentence, extorted $200,000 from Son by falsely claiming she was pregnant with his child and threatening to go public if he didn't pay. She spent the money on luxury goods. The accomplice was convicted of attempted blackmail for threatening Son 15 times. Son reported the pair to the police when they demanded more money this year. The judge noted the defendants exploited Son's celebrity status, causing him significant distress.