Woman who threatened Son Heung-min with pregnancy claim gets 4 years; male accomplice's 2-year term finalized

A woman in her 20s and her male accomplice have had their prison sentences finalized for extorting 300 million won ($193,000) from South Korea national football team captain Son Heung-min by threatening to expose a pregnancy claim, and for attempting to extort an additional 70 million won. The woman received four years and the man two years.

The Supreme Court's Third Division, presided over by Justice Oh Seok-jun, finalized the two-year sentence for the male accomplice, identified only by his surname Yong, by dismissing his appeal in June. In criminal cases, an appeal may be dismissed outright without separate deliberation when the grounds for appeal are found to be procedurally improper.

The woman, identified only as Yang, was sentenced to four years in prison at her second trial in April and did not appeal, making her sentence final as well.

Yang was charged with sending Son an ultrasound image in June 2024 and threatening to expose an alleged pregnancy unless he paid her. Son, reportedly fearing damage to his public reputation and athletic career, transferred 300 million won to Yang.

Yang spent the initial payment entirely on luxury goods and other expenses. Despite having signed a confidentiality agreement after receiving the 300 million won, she resumed her threats when she ran into financial difficulty, according to investigators.

Yang and Yong, who were in a romantic relationship, also faced charges of attempting to extort an additional 70 million won between March and May 2025 by threatening to reveal the alleged pregnancy and abortion to media outlets and Son's family. The attempt ultimately failed.

Prosecutors indicted the pair in custody in June 2025. In December of that year, a court of first instance sentenced Yang and Yong to four and two years in prison, respectively, saying the victim — Son — "appears to have suffered considerable psychological distress."

The appellate court upheld those sentences, finding "no grounds for a change in circumstances from the first-instance ruling" and concluding that the sentences did not appear excessive given the evidence and the nature of the crimes.

During the appellate proceedings, Yang wept and apologized, saying, "I want to express my deepest apologies to Heung-min oppa. I am so sorry I cannot even lift my head."