The prosecution has arrested and indicted a woman in her 20s, surnamed Yang, and a man in his 40s, surnamed Yong, on charges of extorting 300 million won from national soccer player Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur) by threatening to reveal that she was pregnant with his child.
On the 10th, the Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office, headed by Director General Choi Soon-ho, stated that Yang was arrested and indicted on charges of extortion and attempted extortion, while Yong was indicted on attempted extortion charges.
Yang is reported to have been involved with Son Heung-min at one point. She allegedly claimed to Son Heung-min in June of last year that she was 'pregnant' and threatened to expose this to the media, thereby extorting 300 million won.
According to the prosecution, before threatening Son Heung-min, Yang attempted to extort money from another man she had been in a relationship with, using the pregnancy as leverage. However, when he did not respond to her threats, she targeted Son Heung-min.
It was found that Yang spent all the 300 million won received from Son Heung-min on luxury purchases and then fell into financial difficulties again. Consequently, she allegedly attempted to extort an additional 70 million won from Son Heung-min through Yong, who had been her boyfriend from March to May this year. As a result, Son Heung-min filed a complaint with the police, leading to the investigation that ended in an attempt.
The Gangnam Police Station in Seoul received a complaint from Son Heung-min's side and arrested the two on the 14th of last month, applying for an arrest warrant the following day. The court issued the warrant on the 17th, citing concerns that they might destroy evidence and flee.