New Delhi: A South Korean court has handed a four-year prison sentence to the woman who blackmailed football star Son Heung-min, closing a troubling chapter that had followed the forward for more than a year. The woman has been identified as Yang had claimed she was pregnant with Son’s child and used that allegation to pressure him into paying her 300 million won. She kept insisting she was a victim, but the court made it clear she had lied to him without confirming the baby’s paternity.
Investigators said Yang had spent the money on luxury items while continuing to push for more. At one point, she teamed up with an accomplice named Yong who repeatedly contacted Son to demand additional payments. When the pressure escalated again earlier this year, Son decided to approach the police, leading to the pair’s arrest and eventual conviction.
The Seoul Central District Court said Yang had denied the charges throughout the trial but her version of events did not match the evidence. Yong admitted his role and received a two-year jail term for attempted blackmail. The judge noted that both defendants had taken advantage of Son’s public status and that the situation caused the player significant mental strain once the case became widely known.
Prosecutors argued that the plan had been calculated from the start. Yang had contacted Son last year during his final months at Tottenham, claiming the baby she was carrying was his. Local reports indicated that she had no confirmation and used the allegation purely as leverage. Prosecutors told the court that her story shifted multiple times and that her explanation for receiving the money didn’t stand up.
The female defendant maintained she believed the payment was compensation but investigators noted she made luxury purchases soon after receiving the money. The court said the pair targeted Son because of his fame, assuming he would pay to avoid public embarrassment.
Turbulent period for Son ends
The 33-year-old has long been regarded as one of Asia’s greatest footballers. After a decade at Tottenham Hotspur, he moved to LAFC in August in what became the most expensive transfer in MLS history. His popularity in South Korea remains immense and the case drew widespread attention at home.
The situation added an unwanted distraction during a pivotal phase of his career. In October, he was named the second-highest-paid player in MLS, reflecting the impact he continues to have on the pitch. The court acknowledged the emotional toll the extortion attempt had on him, especially once the story surfaced in the media.
For Son, the verdict brings a measure of closure, ending a saga that unfolded far from football but lingered in the spotlight because of who he is.