South Korean Woman Sentenced to Four Years for Extorting Son Heung-min with False Pregnancy Claim

Daftar Isi

 

A woman in South Korea has been sentenced to four years in prison after being found guilty of extorting global football star Son Heung-min through a fabricated pregnancy claim. The case has drawn international attention as it involves one of Asia’s most prominent athletes and highlights how public figures often become targets of deception and financial extortion.

The incident began when the woman, who is in her 20s, contacted Son and claimed she was pregnant with his child. To make her story appear credible, she sent an ultrasound image and threatened to make the alleged pregnancy public unless Son provided a large sum of money. The threats placed Son under significant psychological pressure, as the rumors could have damaged both his professional career and personal life.

According to investigators, the woman had previously received hundreds of millions of won from Son in 2024, after the player felt cornered by her threats to expose the alleged pregnancy. Instead of stopping, she escalated her demands and attempted a more aggressive extortion scheme. Together with a man believed to be her accomplice, she tried to obtain additional tens of millions of won by threatening to release claims of “pregnancy and abortion” to the media.

Legal action was taken after Son decided to report the extortion attempt to the authorities. In May 2025, police arrested both suspects after uncovering strong evidence of coercion, threats, and financial motives. The investigation later revealed that the pregnancy claims were never medically or legally substantiated, proving they were fabricated solely to extort money from the football star.

During the trial, the court described the woman’s actions as a serious crime that exploited the victim’s status as a public figure. Judges emphasized that such threats have the potential to severely damage the reputation of professional athletes and cause long-term psychological distress. For this reason, the four-year prison sentence was deemed appropriate as a deterrent.

The male accomplice was also held accountable. He received a two-year prison sentence after being found guilty of participating in the attempted extortion. The court stated that their actions were planned, repeated, and aimed at manipulating the victim through public pressure, making both individuals responsible for the harm they caused.

The ruling is viewed as a firm message from South Korea’s judicial system that extortion targeting celebrities, athletes, and public figures will not be tolerated. The case has also sparked broader discussion about the need for stronger legal protections for public figures, as well as the importance of public awareness when confronted with unverified claims.