A South Korean woman has been sentenced to four years in prison for attempting to extort money from Tottenham Hotspur forward and South Korean national team captain, Son Heung-min.
The woman, identified in local media as ‘Yang,’ was found guilty of falsely claiming to be pregnant with Son’s child and demanding substantial sums of money in exchange for her silence. The court in Seoul delivered the verdict on Monday.
Yang initially demanded 300 million won (approximately $205,000 USD) to prevent her from publicly revealing her fabricated pregnancy claims. She later attempted to extort an additional 70 million won from the football star.
A man in his forties was also implicated in the extortion scheme and sentenced to two years in prison for his involvement.
The court stated that the defendants exploited Son’s celebrity status and perceived vulnerability, causing him significant emotional distress. The court also noted the woman failed to provide any evidence substantiating her claims about the child’s paternity.
The scheme targeted Son’s reputation, seeking to capitalize on his fame. The legal proceedings highlighted the potential dangers faced by high-profile individuals.
Neither Son nor his representatives have issued an official statement regarding the sentencing. However, earlier reports in South Korean media indicated that Son was acquainted with the woman but received a monetary request based on falsified documents.
