Woman Accused of Extorting Son Heung-min Claims Innocence Amid Online Harassment

A woman in her twenties, identified as Yang, has been accused of attempting to extort money from South Korean national football team captain Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur) by claiming she is pregnant with his child. Following her arrest, there has been a wave of reckless online harassment targeting an unrelated woman, whose photos have been mistakenly associated with Yang's case.

On May 19, social media platforms and online communities saw a surge in posts titled 'Son Heung-min's Pregnancy Extortionist's Instagram Exposed' and 'Unedited Real Face,' featuring images of the wrong woman. In response to the unauthorized sharing of her photos, the identified woman announced her intention to take legal action, expressing disbelief at the situation. She stated, "Am I really supposed to receive 300 million won?" and criticized those spreading false information, warning of potential legal consequences for defamation and violation of the Information and Communications Network Act, which could lead to a prison sentence of up to seven years.

The online harassment began after Yang appeared in court on May 17 for a pre-arrest hearing, where her face was partially visible despite wearing a mask. Critics have pointed out that the police may have neglected Yang's rights, comparing her treatment to that of notorious criminals. Yang is accused of sending Son Heung-min an ultrasound photo and threatening to reveal her pregnancy, leading to her alleged extortion of 300 million won. The court granted her arrest warrant due to concerns about flight risk and evidence tampering.

Additionally, a man in his forties, identified as Yong, has also been arrested for attempting to extort money from Son Heung-min by claiming that his girlfriend was pregnant with the football star's child. Yong allegedly demanded 70 million won in March, threatening to leak the information to the media and on YouTube.