Woman Who Extorted 300 Million Won from Son Heung-min with Pregnancy Threat Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison

[The Financial News] A group that extorted 300 million won from national football team player Son Heung-min by threatening to reveal a fabricated pregnancy has been sentenced to prison in the first trial.
On the 8th, Judge Jeongbin Lim of the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 20 sentenced Ms. Yang, who was indicted on charges including blackmail, to four years in prison. Her accomplice, Mr. Yong, received a two-year sentence for attempted blackmail.
The court found Ms. Yang guilty of both blackmail and attempted blackmail, stating, "The victim, due to his celebrity status, was in a vulnerable position. Exploiting this to demand a large sum of money is an extremely serious offense."
The court further explained that although the meeting with Son was apparently consensual, Ms. Yang took advantage of the situation and participated in a second offense with her accomplice, which was taken into account in sentencing.
Regarding Mr. Yong, the court noted, "This was not merely an attempted threat; he actively proceeded to notify advertisers and the media, exploiting the victim’s celebrity status," and recognized the need for a severe punishment.
During the trial, Ms. Yang argued, "It was not blackmail but compensation for an abortion," but the court did not accept this claim.
The court determined that Ms. Yang acted with the intent to blackmail Son Heung-min rather than confirm the child’s paternity after learning of her pregnancy, stating, "The 300 million won received from Son is, by social norms, an excessively large amount to be considered compensation for an abortion."
Both defendants, dressed in khaki prison uniforms, listened silently to the verdict. Last June, they threatened to expose a pregnancy to Son and extorted 300 million won. From March to May this year, they were brought to trial for attempted blackmail after demanding an additional 70 million won by threatening to reveal the pregnancy and abortion.
Investigations revealed that Ms. Yang initially tried to demand money from another man using the pregnancy as a pretext but gave up when he did not respond. She then approached Son Heung-min and demanded money by claiming she was pregnant. Son’s side paid the money out of concern for his public image and athletic career.
After squandering the 300 million won she had extorted on luxury goods, Ms. Yang, facing financial difficulties, again approached Son’s side with her partner Mr. Yong to attempt further extortion.
On the 19th of last month, Son Heung-min appeared as a witness at the trial of the two defendants and testified in a closed session.
scottchoi15@fnnews.com Choi Eun-sol Reporter