A court in South Korea has sent two people to prison for trying to blackmail the famous football player Son Heung-min. The Seoul Central District Court gave a four-year sentence to a woman in her twenties. A man in his forties, who helped her, received two years. They had tried to force Son to give them money by falsely saying the woman was pregnant with his child.
This story received a lot of news coverage in South Korea. The problems for Son started before he moved to play for Los Angeles FC in August 2024. The two criminals contacted the former Tottenham Hotspur captain. They said the woman was having his baby and even sent an ultrasound picture, but they never did a proper paternity test. Using threats to tell the media, they made Son pay them 300 million won, which is about $200,000.
The situation became worse earlier this year when the pair demanded more money. This led Son to finally go to the police, who started an investigation. In court, prosecutors said the man made around fifteen threats to get the first payment. The woman used the stolen money to buy luxury goods.
The judge did not accept the woman's claim that the money was fair compensation. The court confirmed it was a criminal act of blackmail. Prosecutors explained that her story did not match the facts and that she had lied to Son about the pregnancy.
The judge also recognized the deep personal cost to Son, saying he suffered "intense mental anguish" when details of the case became public. The prison sentences show how seriously South Korea punishes crimes that target famous people, considering the harm to their reputation and mental health.
Son Heung-min is a national hero and one of Asia's best footballers. He continued his professional career during this difficult time. His recent move to LAFC was a major step, and his career has mostly been free of off-field problems. The end of the trial brings some resolution. Legal experts say the punishment should warn others not to try similar schemes. Now, attention can return to Son's football as he plays in North America, while the two blackmailers begin their prison sentences.