Son Heung-min, South Korea’s football icon and Tottenham Hotspur captain, has found himself at the centre of a blackmail scandal after a woman allegedly claimed to be pregnant with his child in a plot to extort money. South Korean police have now arrested two individuals in connection with the incident — a woman in her 20s and a man in his 40s — who are accused of trying to extract large sums from the footballer using fabricated claims.

Ultrasound image and money transfer

The woman reportedly contacted Son in June 2023, claiming she was pregnant with his child and threatening to go public unless he paid her. As reported by Yonhap News Agency, she sent an ultrasound image to support her claim and received approximately 300 million Korean won (about $215,000 USD) from Son. The man, believed to be her acquaintance, allegedly approached Son again in March this year demanding an additional 70 million won (around $50,200 USD). However, this second extortion attempt was unsuccessful.

The Gangnam Police Station in Seoul confirmed that both suspects were arrested on the night of 15 May. Authorities have reportedly raided their homes and seized mobile phones as part of the investigation.

Agency confirms Son is the victim

Son Heung-min’s agency, Son & Football Limited, confirmed in a public statement that legal action had been taken and described the footballer as “clearly the victim of this incident.” The agency said: “We filed a complaint with the police for blackmail. The two individuals threatened the player by claiming they would spread false information about a supposed child of Son Heung-min. We emphasise that Son Heung-min is undeniably the victim in this case.” They also added, “We will take strong legal action without leniency to punish those who have made threats of blackmail with obvious false information.”

As of now, the police investigation is ongoing, and Son’s representatives have promised to update the public once the probe is concluded.

Popularity, injuries and upcoming fixtures

Son, born in Chuncheon in 1992, is widely celebrated as one of the most successful Asian footballers in history. He has represented South Korea in three FIFA World Cups (2014, 2018 and 2022) and has shattered records throughout his career in Europe. After stints in Germany, he joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2015 from Bayer Leverkusen and has since become one of the Premier League’s most lethal forwards. In 2022, he shared the Premier League Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah, scoring 23 goals that season.

Son returned from a foot injury as a substitute in Tottenham’s recent match against Crystal Palace, after a month-long absence. He is expected to play against Aston Villa on 17 May and potentially star in the Europa League final versus Manchester United on 22 May — a critical game for Spurs as they chase their first major trophy since 2008.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, meanwhile, is dealing with a growing injury list, with midfielder Dejan Kulusevski ruled out for months due to a knee injury sustained in the same match. “Yeah, gutted for Deki,” Postecoglou said. “It will put him out for at least a few months.” With James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall also out, Tottenham are facing a creative void in midfield as they gear up for a crucial end to the season.