South Korean Football Star Son Heung-min filed a blackmail complaint after a woman falsely claimed she was pregnant with his child. The Tottenham Hotspurs star filed a formal complaint with Seoul police last week, prompting swift action from authorities.
A 20-year-old woman and a man were arrested for attempted extortion, with police confirming that the woman sent Son an ultrasound image to bolster her claim. In exchange for silence, the pair reportedly demanded a large sum of money allegedly over 300 million Korean won (₹1.6 crore).
According to Yonhap News, Son had already transferred the amount before realizing he was being manipulated. The extortion plot has triggered a flurry of public interest and concern, particularly because Son is widely regarded as one of the most respectful and humble figures in international football.
Son's agency issued a statement calling him “undeniably the victim in this case,” and confirmed that a formal police complaint was lodged against the two suspects. The agency also emphasized that the accused “threatened the player by saying they would spread false information” regarding a non-existent child.
Authorities are currently investigating the case, and more developments are expected as it proceeds to the next stage. Son, 31, has always been transparent about his personal priorities, previously stating that he wishes to focus fully on football while at the peak of his career.
Son Heung-min prepared to lead Spurs towards Europa League glory
Despite the off-field chaos, Son remains focused on his footballing duties. He is set to lead Tottenham against Aston Villa on May 17 and then face Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final at San Mamés on May 22, as Spurs chase their third title in the competition.
The striker has netted 173 goals in 451 appearances for Spurs since joining from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015. On the international front, Son has represented South Korea in three FIFA World Cups (2014, 2018, and 2022)
