A South Korean court has handed a four-year prison sentence to a woman in her 20s for blackmailing football star Son Heung-min, widely regarded as one of Asia’s top players. Her accomplice, a man in his 40s, was also sentenced to two years for attempted blackmail.
The court heard that the woman falsely claimed she was pregnant with Son’s child and threatened to make the allegation public unless he paid her. Over time, she extorted approximately 300 million won, equivalent to around $200,000, which she reportedly spent on luxury items. The accomplice repeatedly pressured Son for additional payments, prompting him to report the crime to the police this year.
Prosecutors told the court that the woman’s claims of receiving the money as compensation did not align with the facts, noting that the crime was meticulously planned. The judge emphasized that the duo exploited Son’s celebrity status, causing him significant mental distress.
Son Heung-min, who played for Tottenham Hotspur for ten years, recently transferred to Los Angeles Football Club in Major League Soccer, marking the most expensive move in MLS history. In October, he was named the second-highest paid footballer in the league. He is also celebrated as the first Asian to win the Premier League Golden Boot in 2022.
The case highlights ongoing concerns in South Korea regarding the exploitation of public figures and the broader issues of stalking and blackmail. Authorities identified both suspects and located their getaway car, but a detailed inventory of the extorted sums and items remains under investigation.
This verdict sends a strong message against the misuse of celebrity status and the serious legal consequences of blackmail, reinforcing the commitment of South Korean courts to protect public figures from exploitation.