A Seoul district court has delivered a decisive verdict in a high-profile blackmail case targeting international football sensation Son Heung-min. The court sentenced a woman in her twenties to a four-year prison term for orchestrating an elaborate extortion scheme against the athlete. Her male accomplice, in his forties, received a two-year sentence for attempted blackmail.
The criminal operation unfolded when the woman falsely claimed to be pregnant with Son’s child, despite having no factual basis for this assertion. The defendants subsequently demanded 300 million won (approximately $200,000) from the footballer, threatening to publicize the fabricated pregnancy claim unless their financial demands were met.
According to court proceedings and AFP reports, the woman utilized the extorted funds to purchase luxury designer goods. Prosecutors revealed that the defendant attempted to position herself as a victim receiving compensation, but the court found her claims inconsistent with evidence demonstrating thorough premeditation.
The scheme escalated when the perpetrators attempted to extract additional payments earlier this year, prompting Son to involve law enforcement authorities. The presiding judge noted that the defendants deliberately exploited Son’s celebrity status for financial gain, causing the athlete significant mental distress particularly after media coverage of the case.
This verdict comes during a notable period in Son’s professional career. The 33-year-old forward recently concluded a decade-long tenure with Tottenham Hotspur to join Los Angeles Football Club in August, marking the most expensive transfer in Major League Soccer history. In October, he was recognized as the second-highest paid footballer in MLS.
Son’s accomplishments include becoming the first Asian player to win the Premier League Golden Boot in 2022 while with Tottenham, solidifying his status as one of Asia’s most celebrated football exports. The blackmail case has drawn significant attention across South Korea and the Asian region where Son maintains substantial popularity.