Following an extensive inquiry into their attempts to extort the football star, a man and a woman involved in a plot to blackmail LAFC forward Son Heung-min were both imprisoned in South Korea.

The case started when Yang, a woman in her 20s, first approached Son, who was playing for Tottenham Hotspur, in June 2024.

She sent the South Korean international an ultrasound photo, claiming he was the father and threatening to reveal this unless he paid. The Seoul Central District Court said Yang extorted 300 million won ($204,000) from Son at first. She was just sentenced to four years in prison for the blackmail.

Between March and May 2025, Yang and Yong escalated the situation against Son, who had joined LAFC. The pair tried to get an extra 70 million won, claiming they’d disclose details of the supposed pregnancy and abortion to his family and the public. Son’s decision to contact the authorities led to the couple’s arrest in May 2025.

Since being convicted of attempted extortion, Yong received a two-year prison sentence. Judge Im Jeong-bin stated the uncertainty of Yang’s claims during the verdict: “Yang never confirmed the father of her child after finding out she was pregnant… Yang’s testimony was inconsistent, making it hard to believe her, even though she claimed the fetus belonged to Son.”

The judge also emphasized the emotional impact on the player: “The defendants took advantage of the player’s celebrity status and vulnerability to steal a large sum of money, making this a terrible crime.”

Additionally, Yang’s manipulation went beyond threats or financial demands. She took action, like informing the media, using Son’s public status.

Though he testified at a closed hearing in November, the son has yet to make a public statement about the convictions.