A woman in her 20s, surnamed Yang, was sentenced on 8 December 2025 to four years in prison by the Seoul Central District Court for extorting prominent footballer Son Heung-min. A male accomplice, aged in his 40s and identified as Yong, received a two-year prison term for his role in attempted extortion.
The court concluded that the pair manipulated the footballer’s public fame and issued false threats — claiming Yang was pregnant with his child and would go public unless paid. The initial demand resulted in a payment of 300 million won (approx. US$205,000), followed by a renewed demand for 70 million won months later.
The scheme — false pregnancy claim and repeated extortion
According to court records, Yang first sent Son an ultrasound image last June, claiming she carried his child. When the footballer complied with her demand for money, the money was paid — but Yang eventually squandered all of it on luxury goods.
In March 2025, financial pressure reportedly drove Yang to enlist Yong in a renewed attempt at extortion. The duo threatened to expose the alleged pregnancy unless an additional 70 million won was paid. This triggered a legal complaint from Son Heung-min’s side, prompting police to arrest the pair in May.
During the trial, Son appeared in a closed session and testified as a witness. While Yang maintained her innocence, the court found the evidence pointed to a premeditated and malicious scheme.
Court’s reasoning — fame exploited, mental distress caused
Judge Lim Jeong-bin of Criminal Division 20 said the defendants exploited the victim’s vulnerability — namely his celebrity status — to extort a large sum. The court highlighted that the extortion was not a one-off but a two-stage scheme, amplifying the severity of the offence.
The judge also noted that Yang never provided conclusive proof of the fatherhood of the alleged child, and her behaviour — from sending the fake ultrasound to repeated demands — indicated intent to deceive rather than a valid claim. The psychological impact on the victim, caused by threats that his personal life would be exposed, was cited as aggravating.
Reaction and wider implications
The conviction has drawn strong public attention, given the high-profile nature of the victim and concerns over misuse of fame for extortion. Many legal observers say the sentence — slightly less than the five years requested by prosecutors — reflects the court’s view of the crime as serious but also as lacking some aggravating elements (e.g. no repeated public defamation).
In South Korea, the case is being watched closely as a possible precedent — it underscores that even public figures can be victims of orchestrated blackmail, and courts may impose substantial sentences when extortion involves deceit and exploitation of status.
There is also renewed scrutiny on how false-pregnancy and scandal threats are used as tools of coercion against high-profile individuals. Many experts argue the verdict may encourage more victims to come forward and discourage similar blackmail attempts.
What happens next — legal closure and ongoing reverberations
Yang and Yong are expected to begin serving their sentences immediately, having been in custody since their arrest in May. The court’s ruling closes the extortion case legally, but the broader social and reputational damage — for the victim and, potentially, for others in similar positions — remains a concern.
For public figures in South Korea and elsewhere, the case is a stark reminder of the perils of false allegations and extortion, especially where private and public life intersect.
