Was Tottenham's Son Heung-min target of a pregnancy extortion plot? Here's what happened with South Korean star
It has come to light that Seoul police have filed for arrest warrants for two individuals accused of attempting to extort money from the South Korean footballer. Among the suspects is a woman in her 20s and a man in his 40s.
Son Heung-min ¡ª a household name not just in South Korea but around the world for his exceptional football skills ¡ª now finds himself entangled in another controversy, once again through no fault of his own.
It has come to light that Seoul police have filed for arrest warrants for two individuals accused of attempting to extort money from the South Korean footballer. Among the suspects is a woman in her 20s who allegedly claimed to be pregnant with the child of the Tottenham Hotspur captain. Gangnam Police Station filed the arrest requests on Thursday (May 15) after detaining the woman and a man in his 40s the previous night.
A special goal from a special player ?
¡ª Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 15, 2025
Sonny's Olimpico has been named the 2024/25 Goal of the Season ? pic.twitter.com/TRrxWzCOKt
What has happened?
The woman allegedly contacted Son in June 2023, claiming she was pregnant and demanding money in exchange for her silence. She reportedly sent an ultrasound image as evidence and received over 300 million won (approximately USD 215,000) from the footballer, Yonhap News agency reported.
Son filed a police complaint last week and told them about the pregnancy claim being fabricated and that he was the target of blackmail. His agency, Son & Football Limited, later confirmed the legal action through an official statement:
"We filed a complaint with the police for blackmail. The two individuals threatened the player by claiming they would spread false information about a supposed child of Son Heung-min. We emphasize that Son Heung-min is undeniably the victim in this case."
The agency added that the investigation is ongoing and promised to provide updates once it concludes. "We will take strong legal action against those who engaged in blackmail and intimidation based on clearly false claims," the statement concluded.
About Son Heung-min
Born in Chuncheon in 1992, Son is the captain of South Korea¡¯s national team, has proudly represented his country in three FIFA World Cups ¡ª 2014, 2018, and 2022.
He joined English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, where he has since become a star. He recently won the 'Goal of the Season' award, as posted by Tottenham Hotspur on the social media handle.
Sonny wins Goal of the Season, again ? pic.twitter.com/ZZUPsVw97d
¡ª Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 15, 2025
He is set to face Aston Villa on May 17, followed by a high-stakes Europa League final against Manchester United on May 22.
Karen Noronha is a versatile journalist with a passion for sports and K-pop. With over 7 years of experience at publications like IBTimes UK, DNA, and OTTPlay/DesiMartini, she seamlessly transitions between covering global athletic events and the dynamic world of K-pop.
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