A woman who attempted to extort South Korean football icon Son Heung-min by falsely claiming to be the mother of his child has been sentenced to four years in prison, according to reports released Monday.
The woman, identified only by the surname Yang, coerced ₩300 million (around $200,000) from Son last year after sending him a foetal ultrasound image and threatening to disclose the alleged pregnancy publicly.
She is reported to have spent the money on luxury and designer goods before she and an accomplice, named Yong, attempted to solicit an additional ₩70 million from the Los Angeles FC forward.
Son informed authorities, leading to both suspects being arrested and formally charged. On Monday, the Seoul Central District Court handed Yang a four-year sentence for blackmail, local broadcasters confirmed.
Yong, who was allegedly in a relationship with Yang, received a two-year prison term for attempted blackmail, according to the Yonhap news agency. Both have been detained since May.
Judge Im Jeong-bin condemned the severity of the scheme, stating that Yang had taken “extreme measures” to exploit Son’s public profile.
“Her actions extended beyond simple threats or financial demands — she actively contacted media and advertising agencies, attempting to use Son’s status as a public figure for leverage,” Im said, as reported by Yonhap.
The judge added that Son endured “significant psychological distress” due to the case becoming public. The South Korean national team captain reportedly appeared at a closed hearing last month to testify.
It remains unknown whether Yang had ever been pregnant with Son’s child. Local reports suggest she may have terminated the alleged pregnancy, but no confirmation has been provided.
Judge Im stated that Yang failed to verify the paternity, noting inconsistencies in her testimony.
“Although she claimed she believed the fetus was Son’s, her statements lacked credibility,” he said.
Son, 33, was named the second-highest-paid player in Major League Soccer in October. He joined Los Angeles FC in August for a reported record-breaking $26 million transfer, marking the most expensive signing in MLS history.
