Two individuals were taken into custody in South Korea on charges of attempting to blackmail Son Heung-min, the captain of the Tottenham Hotspur soccer team, over alleged false paternity claims. The arrests came after a South Korean woman in her twenties was accused of sending an ultrasound image to Son in June of last year, claiming that she was pregnant with his child. Authorities indicated that she allegedly demanded hush money, receiving $214,000 for her silence.
Son, widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players from Asia, has a massive following in his home country, which closely tracks his exploits in the English Premier League. Accompanying the woman in custody is a man in his forties who is believed to have threatened Son earlier this year, demanding $50,000 under the threat of exposing the alleged scandal.
Following these developments, the Seoul Central District Court granted arrest warrants, citing the pair as flight risks. On Thursday, Son’s agency requested a police investigation into the situation, asserting that the player is the victim of unfounded claims. The agency expressed regret for any concern this incident may have caused his supporters.
As the situation unfolds, the woman, referred to only as Yang, remained silent as she entered the courthouse for her hearing, similar to her companion, identified as Yong. Yang, however, later distanced herself from Yong’s actions, stating she was not complicit in his alleged extortion attempt. Police have revealed that the two suspects were known to each other but have not disclosed further specifics about their relationship or whether Yang was ever pregnant.
Son Heung-min, who recently resumed playing following a brief injury hiatus, continues to hold the record for the highest number of goals scored by a South Korean soccer player in a season within a European league. As he prepares for an upcoming Europa League final against Manchester United, the incident reminds us of the vulnerabilities that public figures face in the digital age, particularly concerning reputational risk stemming from false accusations.
Son, widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players from Asia, has a massive following in his home country, which closely tracks his exploits in the English Premier League. Accompanying the woman in custody is a man in his forties who is believed to have threatened Son earlier this year, demanding $50,000 under the threat of exposing the alleged scandal.
Following these developments, the Seoul Central District Court granted arrest warrants, citing the pair as flight risks. On Thursday, Son’s agency requested a police investigation into the situation, asserting that the player is the victim of unfounded claims. The agency expressed regret for any concern this incident may have caused his supporters.
As the situation unfolds, the woman, referred to only as Yang, remained silent as she entered the courthouse for her hearing, similar to her companion, identified as Yong. Yang, however, later distanced herself from Yong’s actions, stating she was not complicit in his alleged extortion attempt. Police have revealed that the two suspects were known to each other but have not disclosed further specifics about their relationship or whether Yang was ever pregnant.
Son Heung-min, who recently resumed playing following a brief injury hiatus, continues to hold the record for the highest number of goals scored by a South Korean soccer player in a season within a European league. As he prepares for an upcoming Europa League final against Manchester United, the incident reminds us of the vulnerabilities that public figures face in the digital age, particularly concerning reputational risk stemming from false accusations.
