A South Korean court has sentenced a woman to four years in prison for attempting to blackmail football star Heung-min Son using a falsified baby ultrasound, İdman.Biz reports.
According to the ruling released on Monday, the woman - identified as Yang - sent Son the fake ultrasound in 2024, claimed the child was his, and demanded money in exchange for her silence. She initially requested 300 million won (approximately $204,000) and later attempted to extort a larger amount together with an accomplice identified as Yong.
The Seoul Central District Court stated that Yang had “lied” to Son and emphasized that there was no confirmation of the baby’s paternity. While Yang denied the extortion charges, Yong confessed and received a two-year prison sentence.
Son’s Status Made Him a Target
At 33, Son remains one of Asia’s most recognized and accomplished footballers. After ten seasons with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, the South Korean forward joined LAFC in August to begin a new chapter in MLS.
South Korean news agency Yonhap previously reported that Yang and Yong had been arrested for attempting to blackmail Son in June of the previous year, when he was still playing for Tottenham. Prosecutors said the pair used the fabricated ultrasound to exploit Son’s fame and public image.
Case Reaches Its Conclusion
The ruling brings closure to a distressing episode for Son, who has long been respected for his professionalism on and off the field. While the player has not publicly commented on the incident, sources close to him indicated that the attempt to damage his reputation caused significant emotional stress.
