The woman, identified only by her surname Yang, was found guilty of extorting 300 million won (about $204,000) from Son in 2024. Prosecutors said she sent the player an ultrasound image and insisted the baby was his, demanding money in exchange for her silence. According to the court, Yang made the claim without confirming the child’s paternity.
She later collaborated with a man, Yong, in an attempt to obtain additional money from the athlete. Yong, who admitted involvement, received a two-year prison sentence.
The Seoul Central District Court noted that Yang denied both extortion and attempted extortion, but concluded she had “lied” to Son and manipulated the situation for financial gain.
Son, 33, remains one of Asia’s most prominent footballers. After ten years with Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League, he transferred to LAFC in August.
In May, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that a woman in her 20s and a man in his 40s had been detained on suspicion of attempting to blackmail Son the previous June, while he was still playing in London.