A woman in her 20s who claimed she was pregnant with soccer player Son Heung-min's child and extorted money was sentenced to prison on appeal as well. An accomplice who attempted additional extortion also received the same prison term as in the first trial.
The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appeals Division 2-1 (Presiding Judges Gwak Jeong-han, Kim Yong-hee and Cho Eun-ah) on the 8th sentenced a person surnamed Yang, indicted on charges of extortion and attempted extortion, to four years in prison, the same as in the first trial. A person surnamed Yong, who was tried together on an attempted extortion charge, was also sentenced to two years in prison, the same as in the first trial.
The court said it could not find any grounds for a change in circumstances from the original judgment and, considering the defendants' evidentiary relationships and the results of the crimes, did not view the original sentences as excessively heavy, and dismissed the defendants' appeals in full.
Yang was indicted and detained on charges of threatening in June 2024 to expose the pregnancy to Son and obtaining 300 million won. Yang is also accused, along with Yong, of threatening to inform the media and Son's family about the pregnancy and abortion to obtain an additional 70 million won, but failing in the attempt.
Prosecutors sought five years in prison for Yang and two years for Yong. Earlier, the first trial said the victim appeared to have suffered significant mental distress and sentenced Yang to four years in prison and Yong to two years. The appellate court maintained the original ruling as is.