A South Korean court has sentenced a woman to four years in prison for blackmailing football star Son Heung-min using a fake pregnancy claim.
A man in his 40s, identified as Yong, has also been jailed for two years for conspiring in the case.
The incident dates back to 2024, when the woman, identified as Yang, sent Son an ultrasound image and claimed he was the father.
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She demanded 300 million won (around Rs 1 crore) in exchange for keeping the matter secret.
The court found that Yang had not confirmed the paternity but still tried to extort money from the player, who is known for his football success and fortune.
Court verdict and details
Yang later teamed up with Yong to attempt to extract more money from Son. Yong admitted his involvement, while Yang continued to deny the charges.
The Seoul Central District Court ruled that the evidence clearly showed the blackmail attempts, giving relief to the footballer.
Son, who spent 10 years at Tottenham Hotspur from 2015 to 2025, moved to Los Angeles FC in August this year, reports First Post.
He became the first Asian player to win the Premier League Golden Boot in 2021-22, scoring 23 goals in 35 matches.
His agency, Son & Football Limited, stated that he was “clearly the victim of this incident” and expressed relief at the court’s verdict.
The case has been widely covered in South Korea and internationally, highlighting the challenges high-profile athletes can face off the pitch.
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