Son Heung-min (33, Los Angeles FC), captain of the Korea men's national soccer team, appeared as a witness in the trial of a woman in her 20s who claimed she was "pregnant with your child" and demanded several hundred million won.
On the 19th, Senior Judge Lim Jeong-bin of the Criminal Division 20, Seoul Central District Court, held a hearing for Yang, a 28-year-old surnamed defendant, who is charged with blackmail and other offenses. Proceedings for Yong (40, male), who was also indicted on an attempted blackmail charge, were conducted separately.
The court called Son Heung-min to testify in person that day. The questioning was held behind closed doors and was not open to the public.
The hearing lasted about 50 minutes starting at 10 a.m. After the session, Son's representative left the court without answering reporters' questions such as "What did you say regarding the threats and blackmail?" and "What is the schedule going forward?"
Yang, who had been in a romantic relationship with Son, is accused of sending a fetal ultrasound image to Son in June last year, claiming pregnancy, and extorting 300 million won. Yong, Yang's boyfriend, is also accused of demanding 70 million won in March this year (attempted blackmail).
Son's side filed a complaint against them for blackmail in May. The Gangnam Police Station, which took the case, arrested the two on the 14th of the same month, detained them on the 17th, and referred them to the prosecution in custody on the 22nd. The prosecution then indicted Yang and Yong on detention on the 10th of last month.
At the first hearing in July, Yang's side denied colluding with Yong and denied the attempted blackmail charge. In contrast, Yong's side admitted all charges.