A Seoul court issues severe sentences in the Son Heung-min blackmail case, jailing two defendants over attempted extortion

Judge at the Seoul Central District Court handed down prison sentences on 9 December in Seoul, ruling in the Son Heung-min blackmail case and sentencing a woman surnamed Yang to four years and a man surnamed Yong to two years for their roles in the extortion scheme.

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The court found that Yang, who is in her twenties, successfully extorted 300 million won from Son Heung-min in 2024 by sending the South Korean football captain a foetal ultrasound image and threatening to publicise claims that she was pregnant with his child.

The court heard that she spent the money on luxury and designer goods, according to evidence cited from earlier investigations.

Prosecutors said Yang later conspired with Yong in a further attempt to obtain an additional 70 million won.

Their renewed threat prompted Son Heung-min to alert authorities, leading to the pair’s arrest and indictment in May.

Local media reported that Son Heung-min attended a closed trial session last month to provide witness testimony.

Prosecutors argued that his cooperation helped accelerate proceedings and underscored the seriousness of the defendants’ actions, which the court described as a calculated attempt to exploit a public figure.