South Korean football star Son Heung-min was all smiles in Bilbao as he captained Tottenham Hotspur to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final. This victory ended the club's 17-year wait for a major trophy, however, while celebrations unfolded in Spain, serious developments emerged back in Seoul.
In South Korea, the footballer's alleged pregnancy blackmail case took a new turn, as both a man and a woman accused of attempting to extort money from him were officially referred to the prosecution. The pair were alleged to have fabricated a pregnancy in an effort to blackmail the Tottenham captain.
The case gained widespread attention after Dispatch reported that the two suspects had colluded to blackmail the footballer. Early reports claimed the woman, known only as Ms. Yang (in her 20s), had started dating the male suspect, who is in his 40s, after her breakup with Son. However, later investigations clarified that they were not romantically involved and were simply acquaintances.
Ms. Yang allegedly received ?300 million KRW (approximately $218,000 USD) from Son in 2023 and was charged with blackmail. In March 2025, the male suspect reportedly tried to extort a further ?65 million KRW (approximately $47,300 USD) and was charged with attempted blackmail.
Authorities reviewed financial records and other communications but found no concrete evidence that the two had acted in coordination. As a result, police opted not to pursue joint blackmail charges.
They even searched the medical clinic visited by Ms. Yang in an effort to retrieve the original medical records that had been submitted voluntarily earlier. However, the search yielded no new evidence, and no additional charges were filed against her.?
Reports suggested that Son's legal team had Ms. Yang sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) after giving her the money. Many now believe she may have simply informed Son of a possible pregnancy and accepted the money in good faith¡ªwithout any intent to blackmail.
Some speculate that the male suspect must have learnt of her past relationship with Son and independently sought to exploit the situation. These revelations has shifted the public opinion.?
The police have been facing backlash for arresting Ms. Yang without solid evidence and critics argue that investigators relied too heavily on Son's testimony and failed to corroborate the blackmail claim with objective proof.