A Seoul court has handed a four-year prison sentence to a woman who ruthlessly blackmailed football icon Son Heung-min, exploiting a fabricated pregnancy to extort a fortune.

The ruling sends a stark warning against the exploitation of public figures, exposing a calculated scheme where the perpetrators siphoned millions to fund a lavish lifestyle before the law caught up.

A Calculated Deception

The Seoul district court heard how the woman, currently in her 20s, approached the Tottenham Hotspur captain last year with a devastating claim: she was carrying his child. However, local media reports indicate she had no medical confirmation of a pregnancy at the time, revealing the assertion as a strategic lie designed to panic the football star.

Leveraging the threat of a public scandal, she successfully extorted 300 million won (approx. KES 28.5 million). Prosecutors emphasized the predatory nature of the act, noting that the funds were not used for medical care or support, but were immediately channeled into personal indulgence.

• The Primary Convict: Sentenced to four years for blackmail and extortion.
• The Accomplice: A man in his 40s, jailed for two years for attempted blackmail.
• The Loot: 300 million won (approx. KES 28.5 million) spent on designer goods.

Luxury Funded by Lies

According to the AFP news agency, the woman utilized the ill-gotten gains to purchase luxury items and designer goods, living large on the footballer’s dime. During the trial, prosecutors dismantled her defense, stating that while she attempted to portray herself as a victim seeking compensation, her actions told a different story.

"Her claims do not fully match the facts," prosecutors told the court, accusing her of planning the crime "thoroughly." The court also convicted her accomplice, who reportedly bombarded Son with threats on at least 15 separate occasions to force payment.

Justice arrived only after the pair overplayed their hand, demanding yet more cash earlier this year—prompting the football star to finally involve the authorities.