Son Heung-min Targeted in Extortion Scheme Involving False Pregnancy Claims
Son Heung-min (손흥민), the 33-year-old captain of the South Korean national football team and Tottenham Hotspur player, has become the victim of an extortion scheme involving claims of a false pregnancy. Authorities have arrested two individuals in connection with the case, and plans for their detention are underway. Son's agency has stated that he is a clear victim and will not seek leniency for the perpetrators. One of the suspects reportedly extorted over 300 million KRW from Son's camp since last year. After continued demands for more money, Son's representatives decided to report the matter to the police.
On May 14, the Gangnam Police in Seoul apprehended a woman in her 20s, referred to as A, on charges of extortion, and a man in his 40s, referred to as B, on charges of attempted extortion. A allegedly sent ultrasound images claiming to show her pregnancy to Son's team in June of last year and subsequently received over 300 million KRW in payments. However, discrepancies have emerged regarding the timeline of the alleged pregnancy, prompting police to investigate the authenticity of A's claims. It is reported that A signed a document agreeing not to disclose the matter publicly after receiving the money.
In a twist, B, who was acquainted with A, allegedly threatened to expose the pregnancy claims to the media in March, demanding an additional 70 million KRW. The police are currently investigating whether A was aware of B's actions. Son's camp has confirmed that no further payments were made to B, who has a history of similar offenses. On May 12, the police applied for arrest warrants for both suspects, who were subsequently captured in separate locations in Seoul and the surrounding areas.
Son's agency has vowed to take strong legal action against the individuals involved, emphasizing that they have been subjected to clear falsehoods and extortion attempts. They expressed regret for any distress caused to fans due to this unfortunate incident.
