South Korean Court Sentences Pair for Blackmailing Son Heung-min

A South Korean court sentenced a woman and her accomplice to prison terms on Monday for blackmailing soccer star Son Heung-min, who plays for Los Angeles FC, in a scheme that began with false claims of pregnancy and escalated to threats against his family and reputation.

The Seoul Central District Court convicted the woman, identified only as Yang and in her 20s, of extorting 300 million won, approximately $204,000, from Son in June 2024. At the time, Son was captain of Tottenham Hotspur in England's Premier League. Prosecutors said Yang sent him an ultrasound image, claiming it showed his child, and demanded payment to keep the information private. Son transferred the money during this initial extortion attempt. Yang was sentenced to four years in prison.

The case intensified between March and May 2025, when Yang enlisted a man in his 40s, identified as Yong, to demand an additional 70 million won. The pair threatened to disclose details of the alleged pregnancy and a subsequent abortion to Son's family and the public. Son reported the threats to police, leading to the arrests of Yang and Yong in May 2025. Yong, who confessed to the charges, received a two-year sentence for...