Son Heung-min is arguably one of the greatest Asian footballers to have played in England. After spending a decade with Tottenham Hotspur, he left England this summer.
However, before he left North London, he had become a legend for the Spurs. He helped them with the Europa League last year. But, from the inside, he was going through turmoil.
A South Korean court has sentenced a woman in her 20s to four years in prison for blackmailing Son Heung-min.
She falsely claimed that she was pregnant with Son’s child. Her accomplice was a man in his 40s.
He also received a two-year jail term for attempted blackmail after threatening the former Tottenham Hotspur captain 15 times in order to obtain money.
According to court testimony, the woman approached Son last year, insisting she was carrying his child despite not knowing whether that was true.
Prosecutors said she extorted 300 million won (£153,000) from the footballer and threatened to go public if he refused to pay.
AFP reported that she spent the money on luxury and designer goods. Prosecutors told the court:
“[The woman] insists she received the money as compensation and portrays herself as a victim. But her claims do not fully match the facts,” adding that she had “planned the crime thoroughly.”
The judge criticised both defendants for exploiting Son’s celebrity status and stated that the player had endured “intense mental anguish” as the case spiralled into public view.
After the pair demanded more money earlier this year, Son reported the matter to the police, leading to their arrests.
Son, now with Los Angeles FC after leaving Tottenham in August, remains one of Asia’s most celebrated footballers.
His stature only deepened the impact of the crime, with the court noting that the blackmail was deliberately targeted at his public profile.
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