A court has sentenced two individuals to prison for extorting a large sum of money from South Korean national football team captain Son Heung Min, using a fabricated pregnancy claim as leverage. The court determined that the crime involved a deliberate structure of manipulation and intimidation specifically targeting a public figure.
On December 8, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 20 sentenced a woman identified as Yang to four years in prison on charges including extortion, and a man identified as Yong to two years in prison for attempted extortion. Yang’s argument that the money was compensation related to “pregnancy and abortion” was rejected.
The court ruled that Yang’s claim of being pregnant with Son’s child was inconsistent and unreliable, and noted that the 300 million KRW (Approximately 204,000 US dollars) she received from Son was “an excessively large sum that cannot reasonably be considered compensation for pregnancy or an abortion.” The court concluded that the payment was obtained by threatening to publicly reveal private information.
Yong’s actions were viewed as even more aggressive. The court stated that he escalated the intimidation beyond messaging, leveraging Son’s public status by referencing advertisers and media outlets to increase pressure. Reports indicate that Son experienced significant emotional distress after the situation became public.
Details of repeated demands for money were also revealed. Yang initially claimed she was pregnant with another man’s child and requested money, but when he did not respond, she redirected her claims toward Son. She sent Son an ultrasound image, received 300 million KRW, and reportedly spent the funds on luxury goods. After experiencing financial difficulties, she and Yong, who had since become romantically involved, attempted further extortion, which ultimately worked against them in court.
Prosecutors had requested a five-year sentence for Yang and a two-year sentence for Yong. The court explained the heavy ruling, stating: “They repeatedly demanded money by exploiting the victim’s unique public status as a well-known figure.”
SEE MORE: Prosecutors seek five-year prison term for woman accused of blackmailing Son Heung Min
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